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Motion · S6M-03489 · 7 Mar 2022

The Damaging Effects of Gender Stereotypes on Girls

Lodged by Pauline McNeill (Scottish Labour) Standard Motion 35 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament notes with concern a new report from the charity, Women in Sport, which finds that over one million girls in the UK who describe themselves as “sporty” lose interest in exercise after they leave primary school; understands that a lack of self-belief and body-image concerns were among the reasons given for the decline; further understands that 43% of girls who once felt they were sporty lost interest in sport as they got older, and of these, 68% said that a fear of being judged stopped them joining in, while 61% said that they lacked confidence; notes that the survey found that all the girls who were polled struggled with self-belief and body image concerns, and that this was especially true for girls who stopped taking part in sport and physical activity as they grew older; further notes that Stephanie Hilborne, the charity’s chief executive, said that teenage girls were being “pushed out of sport as a consequence of deep-rooted gender stereotypes”, and believes that, in light of International Women’s Day, action must be taken against gender stereotyping wherever it exists because of what it sees as the damaging effect these stereotypes have on girls.

Supporters (35)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.