Even 7-Year-Old Girls Realize Women Are Judged on Appearance More Than Ability
A new survey published Tuesday reveals that girls as young as 7 are getting the message that their value lies in how they look rather than any other positive attributes they may have. Not surprisingly, as a result, their self-esteem and body confidence are plummeting.
According to Girlguiding’s 2016 Girls’ Attitudes survey of more than 1,600 girls and young women ages 7 to 21 in the U.K., more than one third (35 percent) of 7- to 10-year-old girls felt that women are judged more on their appearance than on their abilities. That figure climbed to a whopping 71 percent when young girls ages 11 to 21 were asked whether beauty was more important than brains.
What’s more, 36 percent of 7- to 10-year-old girls reported that society makes them believe that how they look is “the most important” thing about them. More than 50 percent of those ages 11 to 21 felt the same way. Nearly 40 percent of 7- to 10-year-old girls said they didn’t feel like they were pretty enough, while 23 percent reported they felt a need to be “perfect.”
The frightening findings also showed a significant drop in body confidence. According to the Irish Examiner, the study reported in 2011 that 73 percent of girls were happy with their appearance, but that number fell to 61 percent just five years later.
The concern over of being body shamed has a powerful ripple effect on girls and young women, according to the survey, making them afraid to wear certain clothes, play sports, speak up in class, and have their picture taken.
When the girls and young women in the survey were asked for their ideas on how to combat the body shame, more than half of 7- to 10-year-old girls said we need to stop judging girls and young women on what they look like.
“This year’s girls’ attitudes survey demonstrates the shocking impact that focusing on girls’ appearance is having on the youngest girls in society,” Girlguiding director Becky Hewitt told the Guardian.
She added: “Girls have told us to stop judging them on how they look. Every day in guiding, girls inspire us with their bravery, sense of adventure, and their kindness. We are calling on everyone to show girls that they are valued for who they are — not what they look like.”
Anne Longfield, the children’s commissioner for England, which focuses on protecting the rights of children, agrees. “Girls, and increasingly boys, are bombarded with images in the media and the 24/7 availability of social media can put additional pressure on children,” she tells the Guardian. “It can be really helpful if parents are able to discuss and challenge unhealthy attitudes children may have and don’t ignore warning signs.”
Longfield added: “Schools also have a huge role to play in building resilience to the negative pressures and attitudes girls may face, and lessons that do this need to be a priority in all school timetables.”
Let’s keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
