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?!!

How is this inappropriate?

You lot commenting are definitely the same people who were complaining about them supporting homosexuals a few years ago. It’s the same thing.

My children have a friend with two mums (homosexual), and another friend with one mum (asexual and adopted) and they know that both are normal. Why shouldn’t they? A lot of these responses are really bigoted and downright scary.

People who are asexual shouldn't have their orientation shoved under the carpet because it makes you uncomfortable.

Not so much uncomfortable, but why does anyone who is asexual want others to know or care?

In the context of Girlguiding I don’t think it’s appropriate to bring sex and sexuality up as a ‘taught’ or featured topic.

I don’t think it is a ‘taught’ or featured topic - is it?

@CecilyP

People who are asexual shouldn't have their orientation shoved under the carpet because it makes you uncomfortable.

Not so much uncomfortable, but why does anyone who is asexual want others to know or care?

Exactly.

And for the people saying it's just a tweet, did they miss an identical discussion about the facebook posts yesterday?

I did miss this. But I’d say the same thing. No 10-year-olds are on FB. That’s adult marketing comms channel.

@CecilyP

People who are asexual shouldn't have their orientation shoved under the carpet because it makes you uncomfortable.

Not so much uncomfortable, but why does anyone who is asexual want others to know or care?

Because perhaps they're fed up of pressure from family, friends, society, or whatever to settle down and have a family? Because people keep asking them why they don't have a boyfriend / girlfriend, or keep trying to set them up with people? Because they're happy and proud of who they are and they're not afraid to be different in what is still an extremely couple oriented society. Because they shouldn't have to hide it?

@fairynick

How is this inappropriate?

You lot commenting are definitely the same people who were complaining about them supporting homosexuals a few years ago. It’s the same thing.

My children have a friend with two mums (homosexual), and another friend with one mum (asexual and adopted) and they know that both are normal. Why shouldn’t they? A lot of these responses are really bigoted and downright scary.

And the children in the classes of those children have been helped to navigate and accept those children by people like me, using appropriate vocabulary and awareness of safeguarding.

It's not bigoted to not want volunteers who are either teenage or inexperienced to not take on topics fraught with safeguarding issues.

Or are you complaining all teachers are off being bigoted when we have a training day.

There is an appropriate time and place for everything. But I cannot recall an instance of any club or group I was part of as a pre teen or young teen where this would have arisen naturally so it's hard to see why it needs to be shoehorned in.

Whereas when I was a kid, sexuality was acknowledged and children were aware of it and talked about it amongst themselves.

So there's nothing wrong with it being raised by adults either. I'm bisexual but I didn't realise that was a "thing" until probably my mid-late teens but in the meantime I was left feeling like a freak because I didn't realise liking the same sex and the opposite sex was normal.

The more we acknowledge these things as normal, the healthier it is. It should just be a fact of life that some people are asexual, just like it's a fact of life that some people have red hair or green eyes.

Asexuality is just as normal as heterosexuality but so many people take objection to discussions about it being part of normal life for their kids, even though those kids are raised in a world where heterosexuality is around them 24/7 as standard

@TheKeatingFive

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.

10-14 years olds is quite a broad age range as well. A 10 year old might not understand attraction in the context of ‘wanting to have sex’ but as crushes on someone or fancying - as in the way kids pair up in DS’s class. Whereas by 14, there may well be more overt recognition of sexuality.

My DD who is now 20 described it as feeling like people were making crushes up when she was younger, and then not being able to identify at all with sex and relationships education during high school because of the spoken assumptions that everyone would want to have sex with someone, whether male or female. Asexuality was just not visible, even in contexts where it would have been appropriate to mention. (And no, I don’t think it is appropriate to mention in GG with children, but that is not what the tweet did, as others have noted).

Because they're happy and proud of who they are and they're not afraid to be different in what is still an extremely couple oriented society.

All fine. But children are not adults' peers and should not be asked to correct this for adults.

I don't love it because I find asexuality as an 'orientation' to be hugely overstated. But also would you be upset if a guide leader referred to their husband, wife or partner at a meeting? Your sexual orientation forms part of your whole life.

@CecilyP

People who are asexual shouldn't have their orientation shoved under the carpet because it makes you uncomfortable.

Not so much uncomfortable, but why does anyone who is asexual want others to know or care?

Why do straight people want others to acknowledge their sexuality? It happens all the time when they get married and have children. It's just not necessary

@PleasantBirthday

Because they're happy and proud of who they are and they're not afraid to be different in what is still an extremely couple oriented society.

All fine. But children are not adults' peers and should not be asked to correct this for adults.

It's not about correcting anything.

It's about changing the way different relationships are viewed so that in 30/40/50 years time, we don't need a week about accepting asexuality as it'll just be as normal a part of life as heterosexuality is.

@PleasantBirthday

Because they're happy and proud of who they are and they're not afraid to be different in what is still an extremely couple oriented society.

All fine. But children are not adults' peers and should not be asked to correct this for adults.

They're not being asked to! All GGUK did was put out a pretty bog standard asexual awareness week tweet just like they would for Pride week etc.

@PermanentTemporary

I don't love it because I find asexuality as an 'orientation' to be hugely overstated. But also would you be upset if a guide leader referred to their husband, wife or partner at a meeting? Your sexual orientation forms part of your whole life.

Not the same. The equivalent is "I'm single by choice". Sexuality doesn't need to come into it.

The equivalent is "I'm single by choice".
Sexuality doesn't need to come into it.

So those who deviate from the norm should hide their sexuality away and never bother regular people with it. I wonder where I have heard that before...

Asexuality is not a choice either.

Girlguiding is an organisation for children aged 5-17 and then adults. Their social media platforms are aimed at adults (maybe slightly older teens) and NOT 10 year olds.
YABU and need to be more open minded. I'm glad they are being inclusive.
10 year olds shouldn't even be on social media.

I left guiding a few years ago when my babies’ bed times clashed with meeting times. But as a leader I would not have taken a tweet in a platform for 13+ as a suggestion for a meeting for guides age 10. Rangers maybe. But not guides.
Social media posts are not aimed at young members below the age of 13.

The equivalent is "I'm single by choice".Sexuality doesn't need to come into it

But that's not what asexuality is at all it's nothing to do with your relationship status!

You can be asexual and in a non-romantic, non-sexual relationship.
You can also be straight and single by choice, just as you can be gay and single by choice.

Being asexual means you don't experience sexual attraction to men or women. It doesn't have anything to do with your relationship status

Girl guiding needs robust safeguarding reassessment.
The fact that they cover such vast yeargroups is, in itself a problem to be navigated.
Part of the reason schools are separated by key stages and year groups is to ensure appropriate content is taught and therefore discussed. There's a lot more thought and care put into education than most people realise.
Which is why a blanket statement of acceptance would suffice and sticking to topics that are not safeguarding minefields.
They don't have the experience or resources to navigate appropriately.

On one hand, we have religious organisations - quite rightly - coming under scrutiny for pushing an anti gay etc agenda, then you have a small group of people from the other school of thought, insidiously almost trying to ‘recruit’ young people to strengthen and justify their cause.

Leave the kids alone! They’re children for such a short time. I have friend’s grandchildren suffering extreme anxiety at 9 years old about climate change, Covid etc. Youngsters shouldn’t be even thinking about their sexuality in fixed terms as young teenagers. It’s not unusual to have crushes on others of the same gender but it’s often more about admiration than a reflection of future orientation.

I genuinely would not have been bothered if my kids were gay or straight but what I do object to is others teaching my children about relationships. That’s my role as a parent.

But your post said they tweeted a thankyou for their contribution and gave a shout to them. That's all.
It's not overly complex position to think this is fine and might actually make an asexual member feel a little bit more welcome and inclusive. That's not teaching 10 year olds anything other than some people are asexual and it's fine in our organisation.

Any adult volunteer who wants to discus any aspect of their sex life with a child is not safe to be around any child.

@Lockheart

*The equivalent is "I'm single by choice". Sexuality doesn't need to come into it.*

So those who deviate from the norm should hide their sexuality away and never bother regular people with it. I wonder where I have heard that before...

Nope. Until it's age appropriate. Look up the national curriculum. In schools these things are carefully mapped out.