Biscuits help kids’ crunch issues
Kiwi girls as young as seven feel a lot of pressure to look good and believe young people try to make themselves look ‘‘too perfect’’ on social media.
They also worry about others judging them based on what they wear and wish there was a more diverse range of body types in popular media.
A survey of more than 4000 New Zealand girls, aged seven to 17, has provided a rare insight into their fears, insecurities and aspirations.
The research into what matters most to girls, commissioned by GirlGuiding New Zealand, is being used to promote the organisation’s new Guide Biscuit fundraising drive, starting tomorrow.
Preliminary findings showed that 29 per cent of girls said they worry about how they look, 52 per cent said people try to look ‘‘too perfect’’ on social media, and 61 per cent said there should be a better mix of body types in the media.
Auckland Girl Guide Tayla Webb, 15, said she and her fellow Guides talked at length about a wide range of issues, from domestic violence to mental health. The survey results would help them learn which topics they should be discussing more.
‘‘We want to develop programmes, campaigns, we want to help girls with self-esteem, confidence and body issues. Anorexia, bulimia, all those issues’’.
Briana Valgre, also 15, said online bullying was a major concern.
Instead she hoped that the Girl Guides could promote more positive use of social media.
GirlGuiding NZ chief executive Susan Coleman said the survey results showed that helping young women navigate their way through life was more important than ever.
‘‘At GirlGuiding, everything we do is about empowering girls and young women and nurturing those most important life skills – confidence, selfesteem, leadership and resilience,’’ Coleman said.
‘‘Of course nothing comes for free, which is why sales of our Guide Biscuits are so invaluable.’’
In an effort to increase sales of the iconic biscuits and reduce the fundraising burden on girls, GirlGuiding NZ has launched a Morning Tea Pack for businesses.
It costs $250 and includes 49 packets of original, chocolate and mini-chocolate Guide Biscuits, as well as a supporters jar.
The profits will help GirlGuiding NZ implement a range of programmes, including Free Being Me, an international campaign to help girls aged 7-14 with body confidence and selfesteem.