Anger over ‘bikini boot camp’… for schoolgirls

A ‘BIKINI boot camp’ for schoolchildren is under fire for ‘sexualising’ girls as young as 12.

Brochures advertising the fitness programme have prompted protests from child protection campaigners and politicians who claim that the title could encourage eating disorders and ‘body shaming’.

They also warned that the leaflets for summer classes at Notre Dame High School in Greenock, Renfrewshire, ‘objectify’ girls and young women.

However, bosses at Inverclyde Council said that Notre Dame pupils suggested the name.

The pink and white leaflet was issued by council-run Inverclyde Leisure and sent to youngsters between the years S2 – who could be as young as 12 and 13 – and S6 across the local authority’s area.

It states: ‘Bikini boot camp is a great opportunity for girls to get active, meet new people, while developing leadership skills.

‘Participants will develop their skills in gymnastics, sports acrobatics, fitness, dance and team games, while also taking part in team building activities and leadership workshops.

‘This programme is a fantastic way for girls to get their first taste of sports leadership.’

The course is part of the council’s active schools programme and has been running for six years.

But Labour MSP Mary Fee, who previously chaired Holyrood’s equal opportunities committee, yesterday urged organisers to rethink the ‘inappropriate’ name.

She said: ‘Encouraging girls to take part in sport and leisure activities is important. However, the idea of promoting this as a “bikini boot camp” for girls as young as 13 is inappropriate.

‘While I support the underlying aim of leadership and physical fitness, I would suggest organisers have a rethink about the name of the class and consider ways to not body shame young girls and women.’

Claude Knights, chief executive officer of child protection charity Kidscape, said: ‘This is an attempt to sexualise the sessions in a gratuitous manner and risks harming the self-esteem of girls who may feel uncomfortable in such attire.

‘The motivation behind the poster is very questionable and it sends out very worrying messages.’

Alys Mumford, spokesman for gender equality group Engender, said: ‘Sexualisation of women and girls is incredibly damaging and this sort of language adds to the pressures young girls feel around their bodies.

‘We urge the organisers to consider more carefully the language they use in future.’

Inverclyde councillor Chris McEleny took up the matter when he was alerted to the title. He said: ‘It’s a bad choice of name and not sensitive at all to all the connotations it can cause. I think we’ve learnt our lesson here.’

A Notre Dame parent council member with three children at the school, who did not want to be named, said: ‘The scheme has been running for a number of years. To my knowledge this is the first time any comment has been made.

‘The council have acknowledged the name should be changed.’

An Inverclyde Council spokesman said: ‘The title was chosen by the participants themselves as something light-hearted and likely to appeal to their peers.

‘However, we completely understand the concerns expressed and the title will be reviewed ahead of promotion next year.’

‘It sends out very worrying messages’