girl power needed quickly

[chrissie9]

I have just joined Mumsnet andI think the whole site is very interesting and useful.

I have 3 children, 2 of whom are girls- 24 and 13. I can't believe how much more pressure there is now on young girls, even younger than my daughter at 13, to conform to such sexualisied steroetypes as seen in the media etc. Not only that, there are dreadful expectations being made of girls at secondary schools by boys, who treat them as no more than mere commodities to be used.I feel there are so many vulnerable girls out there who are falling for this culture which is exploiting them financially and worse.
I am an ex social worker, and now a headteacher. I feel that this is a timebomb waiting to explode. Am I the only one who feels so strongly? I want to move things on in some way -is there an organisation that is doing something about this or do I need to start one myself? I hpe not as I haven't got time!!

Go to the All Topics button on the top left.
Find the Feminism and Women's Rights board. Say hello, there will be a lot of people delighted to meet you and who share your concerns.

You are right to be concerned when ( click here this is from another thread ) this is happening.

I suggest as well us the above you contact CEOPS who help alert parents to a lot of stuff that occurs online too. CEOPS

Thanks for these suggestions which I will follow up- it is good to know I'm not the only one worried about this.

chrissie

As I have 2 daughters 17 &15 yep you bet I'm concerned!

Just shared the link above about the sexting with them to gauge how common it is. They both said they'd heard of it but they thought most of the people they'd heard about were not using photos "only" dirty talk.

But then my youngest said
" but they're all sad tosssers with no respect that do that"

I agree with the sentiment if not the wording!

My daughter soemtimes casually recounts comments boys have made in passing or in front of other boys.It seems to happen to all the girls and so frequently from what she says that I don't see how the school can do anything about it. I daren't even ask her about sexting!!

As a headteacher can you not change things in your school? Feminist projects, literature etc?

yes I can and do regularly - as well as feminist projects etc just building self esteem and resilience, self reliance etc all helps I find;it is pleasing to see how well the children [boys and girls]respond to this approach too. However my concern is what happens at secondary level where the pressure to conform intensifies at a time when teens feel so awkward about themselves and desperate to fit in. Some schools do a better job than others I feel at tackling these issues-I wish that there was a greater awareness of the issues and that schools were more accountable for what they were doing about them.

Ambition is the best contraception - and the best emotional protection. I encouraged my daughter wholeheartedly to have interests outside of boys. Romance is all very good, but if it's all you have, you will get used.

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=low+light+judith+bunting&x=0&y=0

This poster campaign is running in my son's college, with discussions in tutor time to back it up.
www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2011/09/this_is_abuse
It's been taken seriously by most of the students according to DS.

This is a great idea;I will mention it on my daughter's school forum, thanks