To argue that this should is not a suitable topic for the Girl Guides

[MovedByFanciesThatAreCurled]

Girlguiding is for girls, aged 10-14. So why then do they feel the need to promote this on their social media?

This week is #AceWeek - a time to raise awareness and understanding of the asexual community. So here’s a shout-out to all of our asexual volunteers and members – thank you for everything you do in Girlguiding.

The reference to ‘members’ is quite clear. What on earth were they thinking in making reference to young girls’ sex lives (or lack of them according to the focus of the Tweet). How, as an organisation, have they strayed so far? I have two boys in the Scouts/Beavers and if this came up on either of their social media pages I would pull them out. Why is it seen to be an acceptable for Girlguiding?!!

Why can't people just enjoy a male / female space only without thinking about gender sex and attraction.

Sometimes I prefer the good old days when such topics where only whispered in private conversations- but anyone of the right age knew anyway!

YOU find talk of asexuality at 10 inappropriate but 10yo me would have been really helped by discussions of different sexualities being normal. By 10 I knew I was bisexual - I didn't know it had a name but I certainly knew I felt romantically the same for boys and girls and I was aware others did not. It would have been nice to know I wasn't a freak, would most likely have prevented the poor mental health and self harm I experienced as a pre-teen and teen.

@Finknottlesnewt children are introduced to sex education in school at around age 9.

If it's okay to discuss heterosexuality and puberty at that age, why isn't it okay to discuss homosexuality or bisexuality or asexuality as well?

Protecting children too much can do more harm than good, btw.

It just doesn't need acknowledgment at that age. It just is what it is. If you are bought up by gay parents then that's your everyday reality . Just as if you are bought up by a mum and dad . Or a mum or a dad. It just is what it is .

They do not need to 'explore' that .. plenty of time to do that in later teens. Not required for 4-14 yr olds !

Glad you asked.
In pshe in UK schools, sexuality is carefully mapped out.
Homosexuality is referenced as early as ks1. But appropriately in context of families.
For example in a year four lesson you'll Ellicit families can be all shapes, step parents, two mum's, adopted etc.
It's not until the end of ks2 when children's bodies are changing that sexuality is explored. This is very carefully planned and usually done by a designated member of staff with safeguarding responsibilities. They are trained to look out for questions which are not age appropriate.

Asexuality may be implied with single parent families in ks1 and 2, but of course the child would need prior knowledge about sexuality beyond their age. That's a handy red flag.

Just as it's not necessary for them to 'acknowledge' heterosexuality !

But the problem is that their entire culture is oriented around heterosexuality, so they 'acknowledge' it from the age of a small child.

Now homosexuality is much more culturally visible and I expect most under 14s are also aware of its existence as a sexual orientation.

I'm not sure what's so terrible about them knowing at this age, that you might not be either.

@Finknottlesnewt ignorance, which is what you’re advocating, is the main driving factor to intolerance and discrimination.

The reason we no longer imprison people for being gay is because we have, as a society, challenged our ignorance and perception of homosexuality and understand it to be normal.

You wish your children to be ignorant?

@NoSquirrels

How old are your children, out of interest, *@Finknottlesnewt*?

26,24 & 19. an age where these conversations have been more than appropriate for many years.

‘It's a sexual orientation.’

Isn’t it a lack of sexual orientation and a lack of wanting sex? Like atheist isn’t a religion. I am not sure why people who don’t want sex need to be celebrated and why 10-14 year olds need to think that not wanting sex needs a label. Surely it’s just ok and perfectly normal not to want sex. Putting a label on it makes it weird.

Wow what a lot of vitriol over a tweet that no rainbow or brownie will even see. Come back when you’ve been offended by something that has actually been taught/discussed at a guide meet.

Kids at high school will be involved in sexual health classes and learn about all sexual persuasions so that they develop into adults that understand other lifestyles. Why shouldn’t an organisation like the guides promote understanding too?

Some people are so very fearful of difference.

@Finknottlesnewt

It just doesn't need acknowledgment at that age. It just is what it is. If you are bought up by gay parents then that's your everyday reality . Just as if you are bought up by a mum and dad . Or a mum or a dad. It just is what it is .

They do not need to 'explore' that .. plenty of time to do that in later teens. Not required for 4-14 yr olds !

I couldn't disagree more.

If these things were discussed and acknowledged more openly, you wouldn't experience so many children or teenagers being confused and scared about their bi or homosexual feelings,

Did you read what @RacketeerRalph wrote about their experience?

There’s no need to be so supercilious and condescending. ‘I repeat’. Yes you’re right, you have repeated yourself and people still don’t agree.

@Finknottlesnewt

It just doesn't need acknowledgment at that age. It just is what it is. If you are bought up by gay parents then that's your everyday reality . Just as if you are bought up by a mum and dad . Or a mum or a dad. It just is what it is .

They do not need to 'explore' that .. plenty of time to do that in later teens. Not required for 4-14 yr olds !

They're not being invited to explore it, GGUK is just saying all are welcome regardless.

I am not sure why people who don’t want sex need to be celebrated and why 10-14 year olds need to think that not wanting sex needs a label.

Because so much of the cultural backdrop is made up if people who do want sex, so understanding that's not true of everyone is a helpful thing to know.

Exactly.

@Enb76

‘It's a sexual orientation.’

Isn’t it a lack of sexual orientation and a lack of wanting sex? Like atheist isn’t a religion. I am not sure why people who don’t want sex need to be celebrated and why 10-14 year olds need to think that not wanting sex needs a label. Surely it’s just ok and perfectly normal not to want sex. Putting a label on it makes it weird.

No, asexuality isn't just not wanting sex, it's never feeling any kind of sexual or physical attraction to anyone of either sex.

It's easy to feel like a total freak if you're asexual in a world full of people who are happily married and having relationships and families when you have zero attraction to anyone to make those things happen.

It's much much healthier to acknowledge it as normal than it is to just pretend it doesn't exist.

Is it necessary to acknowledge homosexuality?

Not necessarily. Why would you need to discuss sexuality in every context? "Ok girls, when you are building a campfire, make sure you're in a clearing. Also, some people are asexual."

Some people are so very fearful of difference.

That does seem to be the case. I'm very surprised at how threatened people seem to be by asexuality on this thread.

@Enb76

‘It's a sexual orientation.’

Isn’t it a lack of sexual orientation and a lack of wanting sex? Like atheist isn’t a religion. I am not sure why people who don’t want sex need to be celebrated and why 10-14 year olds need to think that not wanting sex needs a label. Surely it’s just ok and perfectly normal not to want sex. Putting a label on it makes it weird.

Because so much of our society is oriented around couples and sex, it might be nice to know that you don't have to do that and that it's normal not to want to? So that maybe those who don't want to have sex feel comfortable asserting their boundaries and saying no if they get pressured, rather than thinking "I'm not normal, maybe I should try it, everyone else does" and ending up with a harmful traumatising experience?

Because maybe some young girls going through puberty are confused and scared about their sexual orientation and don't know if they're "normal" or not?

Why not teach them that sexual feelings don't start at 10 or even 14 for a lot of girls and this is normal.

It does not mean that they are asexual. It means they are still developing and not yet an adult even though they may wish to be older than they are.

And maybe teach them not to apply pressure to their peers over the necessity to label your sexuality before adulthood.

Novel concept to teach children that its ok to be a child and not have to feel they have to be an object of sexual desire or be full of sexual desire before adulthood, i know.

@LucyFox

Oh another thread bitching about Girlguiding - #Yawn 🥱

Oh look, another handwaving away of the sexualisation of children by adults.

Not necessarily. Why would you need to discuss sexuality in every context?

Obviously not in the context you're talking about, but it would come up. Films, tv shows, celebs. Would you just pretend it doesn't exist?

@PleasantBirthday

Is it necessary to acknowledge homosexuality?

Not necessarily. Why would you need to discuss sexuality in every context? "Ok girls, when you are building a campfire, make sure you're in a clearing. Also, some people are asexual."

You don't need to discuss it in every context and you're being ridiculous.

It's the official awareness week, all GGUK are saying is that you're welcome and it's cool if you are.

@PleasantBirthday

Is it necessary to acknowledge homosexuality?

Not necessarily. Why would you need to discuss sexuality in every context? "Ok girls, when you are building a campfire, make sure you're in a clearing. Also, some people are asexual."

You're just making a ridiculous scenario up to try and prove your point.

It's not about shoe-horning sexuality in at every given opportunity, it's about acknowledging it (however briefly) so people realise it exists and that it's perfectly okay to feel that way.

In what universe is that a bad thing? Why are people so scared of their children learning about different sexualities and types of relationship?

Oh look, another handwaving away of the sexualisation of children by adults.

If you think that's what this is, then you haven't been paying the slightest bit of attention.