How girls fear paying price for being female

NEARLY half of girls as young as seven believe getting a well-paid job will be harder because they are female, say Guide leaders.

They also warn that more than a third of girls and women aged 13-25 know someone who has self-harmed.

The figures were released by Girlguiding Scotland, which says that gender inequality ‘casts a long shadow’ over girls’ lives.

Around half – 46 per cent – of those aged seven to 25 who took part in the survey said that they felt they would have more freedom if they were a boy and two in five believed getting a high-paid job would be harder because of their gender.

The report also revealed that girls’ optimism appears to decline as they get older.

While 61 per cent aged seven to 11 strongly agree they can do anything a boy can do, this drops to just 45 per cent for 12 to 17year-olds and 39 per cent of those 18 to 25.

Worryingly, mental illness appears common among girls aged 13 to 25, with 77 per cent saying they know a girl their age who has suffered depression, with 63 per cent saying they know a girl who has self-harmed.

Meanwhile, 37 per cent of girls aged 13 to 25 said they knew a girl of their age who had experienced sexual assault or rape.

In addition, 43 per cent of that age group said that they knew a girl with experience of violence or controlling behaviour by a partner.

Hannah Brisbane, of Girlguiding Scotland, said: ‘Gender inequality casts a long shadow over girls’ everyday lives and their views of the future.

‘We hope this research will play an important role in highlighting the issues girls are up against and how we can all play a part in making Scotland the best possible place to be a girl.’

Louise Macdonald, chairman of the First Minister’s Advisory Council on Women and Girls, said: ‘For all our progress, we still have a long way to go to ensure girls in Scotland can feel truly equal in their everyday lives and future careers.’