The Future Girl activity pack helps inspire girls to be empowered and break stereotypes surrounding women. It’s time to come into the future and leave the past!
We started by discussing women and brainstorming the pros and cons of being a girl, coming up with topical, comedic and deep ideas. For instance, many girls discussed meaningful issues that apply to all of them, especially regarding puberty and social/emotional aspects. This included “being self-conscious” and the need to make “meaningful bonds with friends”, and the ideas that “girls cry more” and “girls are nosey”.
After discussing these ideas, the girls were tasked with acting out situations regarding their gender that had meaning to them. A few concepts that really stood out regarded bullying and body image. One powerful line that made a huge impact on the girls was “bullied by myself.” The Guides considered how girls’ stereotypes have barely changed over the years. Performances about disabilities also had an impact on the Guides. It made them consider those who are struggling to fight for their own rights.
The Guides didn’t just talk about female values. They also talked about how women can help bring about change in the rest of the world - animal cruelty, diversity, food banks, poverty and education were all close to their hearts. They all decided that they wanted to live in a world without bullying and abuse towards women and were concerned that in some countries domestic abuse has recently been decriminalised.
We think that these are powerful messages that everyone can benefit from because if young women can be as thoughtful as this and want to change the world as much as our Guides, then others can follow.