Australian girls say life would be easier if they were treated equally

AUSTRALIAN girls say life would be a lot easier if they were treated the same as boys and weren’t judged on their looks over their abilities, a new survey reveals.

AUSTRALIAN girls say life would be a lot easier if they were treated the same as boys and weren’t judged on their looks over their abilities.

A new survey of 10- to 17-year-olds reveals perceptions of gender inequality grew as the girls got older, while confidence levels and leadership aspirations fell.

The Plan International findings, to be released today, say girls are constantly told they can achieve anything they desire.

“But this report shows there is a ‘dream gap’ between what girls aspire to in early life and what they believe is realistic for them as they become young adults,” the research says.

Despite many aspiring to be leaders, around 40 per cent of girls thought gender was the biggest barrier to achieving their goal.

One anonymous 10-year old-girl said: “It would be nice to see women in positions of power who didn’t have to look good at the same time.”

Girls felt inequality pervaded in sport, the media, school, and at home, where many said they were asked to do more housework than boys.

Teenage girls were less likely to describe themselves as confident or powerful and many did not recognise they had qualities that good leaders should possess.

Plan International Australia deputy CEO Susanne Legena said she was shocked to hear most girls say unprompted that the one thing they would like to see in the world was gender equality.

Plan International Australia deputy CEO Susanne Legena.

She said, as girls made the transition from childhood to adolescence, they started to look like women and often confronted their first experiences of sexism.

“Girls start to realise they don’t have all the same opportunities as boys,” she said.

Keira Wright, 17, said by the time she was a teen she felt like she was expected to be fearful for her safety. ​​

“It suddenly means I can’t go out at certain times, or walk somewhere my male friends can, and I don’t want to wear particular outfits because I’m worried about how people will perceive me and what will happen,” she said.

“It’s normal to have people yelling out from cars commenting on my body or what I am wearing and that just doesn’t happen to boys.

Keira Wright, 17, is a Plan International Australia youth activist wants gender equality. Picture: David Caird

“They are subtle instances of sexism that aren’t given as much attention as they should.” ​

The Plant International youth ambassador supports the organisation’s call for a ban on sexist advertising, the removal of gendered uniforms, and gender pay audits for corporations.

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