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?!!

Girlguiding is for girls, aged 10-14

Their social media isn't.

I gather they have made one comment. They haven't made it into a badge and had an evening discussing it.

@ftw163532

I think this thread shows people don't understand the organisation they're attacking. Or are wilfully misrepresenting it in order to justify an attack.

I think it shows people up as extremely prejudiced.

I think it shows people making strawman arguments about the significance of a single tweet. Which the same posters usually find highly objectionable when it's done to them.

I have undertaken guiding safeguarding training. In my experience it is nowhere near robust enough to tackle such topics. My experience as a teacher informs that.

Is that a straw man.

How can it be inappropriate to tell young girls that NOT wanting sex and/or romance is perfectly OK??? It gives them options. some might be asexual or aromantic, some just a bit young. But it assures them that it is ok to not be interested- a very important message.

And it’s not about sexuality. I personally don’t see why anyone, straight or gay or asexual should be talking about this in a children’s group.

Especially if the group is about nature conservation and learning civics. I was under the impression that girl guides was about girls learning about nature and tk appreciate and conserve nature as well as learning about doing ones civic duties and helping neighbours, earning badges for crafts and useful skills etc.

I don’t see how discussing any sexuality or sexual theme fits in with the group.

Children don’t always need to have every activity or everything they do to be focused on sex and sexuality.

Sex is natural, but childhood should have time and appropriate child friendly education about such themes. And not every child group needs to talk about sex at all in any way shape or form.

I think this is an inappropriate thing to discuss in such a group. I’m basing that off of my understanding of what such a group is intended for.

YADNBU

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.

Presumably you are heterosexual? so not lacking in role models or affirmation/information about your sexual identity.
Not so great for a child questioning their identity, or with a parent apparently so ignorant they consider being asexual the same as not being in an active sequal relationship.

*sexual not sequal

The opening sentence of the op was totally false and incorrect. Literally the very first sentence of the post was already bullshit.

But yeh sure, wade in and attack an organisation based on a deliberately misleading and inflammatory post intended to whip up a frenzy.

How can it be inappropriate to tell young girls that NOT wanting sex and/or romance is perfectly OK??? It gives them options. some might be asexual or aromantic, some just a bit young. But it assures them that it is ok to not be interested- a very important message.

Exactly

I find it bizarre how much the idea clearly threatens some people though.

Claiming that a marketing tweet - that won't even have been seen by the majority of the membership - is going to dictate the meetings of every single unit in the country seems pretty strawman-like to me.

As does claiming this is about sex lives.

Not so great for a child questioning their identity, or with a parent apparently so ignorant they consider being asexual the same as not being in an active sequal relationship.

But what has any of that to do with guiding?

Presumably you are heterosexual? so not lacking in role models or affirmation/information about your sexual identity.
Not so great for a child questioning their identity, or with a parent apparently so ignorant they consider being asexual the same as not being in an active sexual relationship.
this in spades. Many People outside LGBTQAI don’t get how hard it is to not know how you fit, if you fit and if you indeed have a right to exist.

Which is why they should leave the topic alone.

Tell me, why aren't you advocating for heterosexual leaders to be banned from making reference to their husbands? Since they're not equipped to safely venture near such topics.

Or are you?

@ftw163532

Claiming that a marketing tweet - that won't even have been seen by the majority of the membership - is going to dictate the meetings of every single unit in the country seems pretty strawman-like to me.

As does claiming this is about sex lives.

I'm trained on safeguarding. We're used to spotting the 'route in" and planning for scenarios that are unlikely but may happen.

By your definition all safeguarding is a straw man.

It's a good thing you are not in charge of children.

But what has any of that to do with guiding?

I've just looked at their website. The opening page has posts on Black History Month and autism, should they not mention those things either?

What silly twaddle. I'm sure that it will have many young girls, for whom boys, girls, sex, porn and men's expectations of them are topics and issues of interest and often distress, very confused though.

@YetAnotherSpartacus

What silly twaddle. I'm sure that it will have many young girls, for whom boys, girls, sex, porn and men's expectations of them are topics and issues of interest and often distress, very confused though.

Asexuality is silly twaddle?

Would you say that about homosexuality too?

Why does a child’s activity group need to discuss sex and sexuality at all?

There is sexual education at school and I will assume that some parents will also discuss sex and sexuality at home in an age appropriate manner.

I don’t see why every children’s group or activity needs to discuss sex at all. There seems to be a flood of people trying to push children’s groups to discuss sexual themes when it is not needed.

Children should have activities 100% free of anything sexuality or sex focused. Just the fact that I am even writing this to a group of adults shows just how far down society has slid and that we are against any safeguards for children now. It’s appalling.

Children can’t even be children anymore because adults don’t understand that children are not mini adults. And they don’t need to understand everything or learn about everything in childhood. Life provides life long learning opportunities. Age appropriate sexual education is valuable.

But again.. not every children’s group or activity should include anything sexual.

I wouldn’t allow my daughter to participate in a group that is for teaching her about nature and civic duties, they then pivots to talk about sex or any sexuality at all! It should be a given that a child’s group is absolutely no sex discussion at all.. no sex talk of any kind!

You can be aware you are gay at primary school ( it’s not all about sex)
Puberty is a good age to know that A sexuality is an option and to have it normalised
Not revolting but quite brave of girl guiding
I can explain this to my 8 year old quite easily why can’t you ?

@YetAnotherSpartacus

What silly twaddle. I'm sure that it will have many young girls, for whom boys, girls, sex, porn and men's expectations of them are topics and issues of interest and often distress, very confused though.

Do you realise how offensive you are?

Why does a child’s activity group need to discuss sex and sexuality at all?

There is sexual education at school and I will assume that some parents will also discuss sex and sexuality at home in an age appropriate manner.

You do realise that they are not discussing asexuality in the group? There are no activities about asexuality. There is nothing about sex there.

It's a tweet in a platform that you are meant to be 13 to join.

Also, as shown here, parents often know feck all about orientations other than heterosexuality.

Why does a child’s activity group need to discuss sex and sexuality at all?

Well I'm sure people mention their husbands/partners. That's referencing their sexuality.

I am reading this thread and feeling pleased that my daughters have role models like their Guide leaders instead of some of the people on this thread. Stop using children as an excuse to justify your discomfort / outright homophobia (that might or might not be quite the right word in this instance,). Nothing's being "forced" on anyone. It's a passing acknowledgment of differences, aimed at people old enough to be on social media.

It should be a given that a child’s group is absolutely no sex discussion at all.. no sex talk of any kind!

You know this was a single comment on their social media (which is not for young children), not a new badge, right?

Would there have been this much pushback if they had referenced Pride? Surely not.