Girl's Attitudes & Role Models Explored

A new report by Girlguiding UK highlights a role model deficit among girls and young women, shedding light on how the narrow range of positive examples available to girls and young women aged 7 to 21 is linked to a limited range of aspirations for their futures.

The report, prepared from focus group research, says that girls who think it right to refrain from sex while still far below the legal age of consent are no more than “a significant minority”. Several of those surveyed admitted taking risks and pushing themselves beyond their comfort zone in order to feel accepted – drinking alcohol, partying and having underage sex. They justify their actions by referring to the abundance of TV shows that are seen to normalise such behaviour.

The full report is available here:
http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/pdf/GirlsAttitudesExploredRoleModels_FINAL.pdf [PDF 5.55MB]

Live Twitter Debate on Social Workers' Role & Identity

There will be a live debate on Twitter today (Tuesday 18th October) 2011 from 20.00-21.00 GMT (15.00-16.00 EST) covering social worker's roles and professional identity. The debate is sponsored by the Social Work & Media Network, Goldsmiths University of London and the Open University and will address such questions as:

1. How should we define the role of social workers in our society (Are statutory social workers’ an agent of state? and What is the role of non-statutory social workers?)
2. Are social workers such a consistent failure or is social work the easiest “Social Scapegoat”?
3. How can we establish and sustain a more engaged and positive role and identity for social workers?

Anyone is invited to join in. You can find out more & join the debate here: Social Work /Social Care & Media.