"The Guardian" article [1]

What girls really think
Girlguiding UK surveyed the attitudes of over 1,000 girls and young women, aged between seven and 21, about the issues affecting them. The answers reveal their attitudes towards health, education, families, society and the environment

Body image, bullying and cosmetic surgery, all scored highly in terms of importance for young girls today.
17-year-old Leah Parsons, was one of the 14 young advocates who formed a panel to look at the results and make recommendations
I joined the panel because I wanted to find out what other girls in the country are thinking. Body image was a big issue. I think airbrushing has a larger impact than anybody realises, especially the celeb images in magazines. Girls want 'quick fix' cosmetic surgery like the celebs, when they probably don't understand what is involved. They're not really interested in a healthy eating and exercise programme to keep them fit. What is scary is that younger girls are being affected, it used to be teens, now even 9 and 10-year-olds are worried about being thought fat.
Stress was another big issue. I think it's really significant that the survey showed that primary school was seen as an exciting place to learn, but 11 to 16-year-olds found school stressful, boring, and a waste of time. At school girls compare themselves to see if they've got the 'right' body. Stress isn't due only to exams, or bullying, which were also identified, but body image as well..
And as if that wasn't enough, you have to take care you're not seen to be too clever. It's all about fitting in, isn't it? Not to be seen to be different and a target for someone else to make fun of, or bully you. As we went through the results it became clear to me that a lot of the themes are linked by this issue.
Another area the Girls' Attitudes report investigated was health. The statistics for drinking alcohol and having unprotected sex were very high. Again it's about fitting in with a social group – it could be the group that goes out drinking, the group of skinny girls, the group that has unprotected sex. It's all about peer pressure and the need to belong.
I think doing what their friends do, explains why so many young people are going into higher education during these credit crunch times. I think more young people know about things like benefits, and so having a baby before marriage can seem like an economically sensible option. And then other people do the same, not being aware of the wider effect of having a baby.
As for the age at which people can marry, I would agree with the results there completely. It should be raised to an age where you are more responsible. At 16 or 17 you are only just into further education. When I am taking part in Guide activities I can be myself. Like all young women, I recognise these pressures happen to a greater or lesser extent in other areas of my life, but when I am a Guide I am free of it.
I think it's really important that people understand what Guiding offers girls and young women and how much it achieves. It looks like there are lots of girls and young women out there who could benefit.
Leah Parsons is a Senior Guide from Devon.