Kevin Rudd rejects 2010 as year of the Girl Guide
21-November-2008
Kevin Rudd’s decision to reject the request by Girl Guides Australia to make 2010 the Year of the Girl Guide, to mark the movement’s centenary anniversary, is a strange way to encourage young women to take part in activities which will help build their self esteem and confidence, Shadow Minister for Youth Sophie Mirabella MP said today.
“Only yesterday, the Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis announced a national body image code in an attempt to help counter the negative effects of the damaging sexualised messages and imagery that constantly bombard our little girls. Yet the Government refuses to back this suggestion from an organisation, the sole aim of which, is to encourage young girls to be valuable contributors to our society and equip them to become self confident, emotionally intelligent and resilient young women,” Mrs Mirabella said.
“The news that pictures of Olympic champion, Stephanie Rice, have been airbrushed for a magazine cover is just another example of the obsession that media outlets have with unrealistic and unnatural images of women. Stephanie Rice, apart from being an elite athlete, is a healthy, young woman and the last thing she needs is airbrushing. How on earth can we encourage young girls to respect themselves and their bodies if young women and good role models, such as Stephanie Rice, cannot be accepted as they are?”
“Girl Guides Australia is a perfect example of a grass roots organisation which works to provide an environment in which young girls can learn the skills to become valuable leaders who can make worthwhile contributions to society. It provides an environment in which all girls can feel safe, valued and totally accepted,” Mrs Mirabella said.
“Today, more than ever young girls need healthy, positive role models. We need to encourage our young girls and women to take part in valuable activities that will help to build their self esteem and contribute to their community. We must fight the constant message that the only way society will accept them is if they adhere to some unobtainable image which is how they are so often depicted in the media.”
“The former Coalition Government, to its credit, recognised the centenary of the scouting movement by proclaiming 2008 – The Year of the Scout and to celebrate the centenary of the Surf Life Saving Movement, 2007 was proclaimed The Year of the Surf Life Saver. These are both great community organisations which were given the recognition they deserve,” Mrs Mirabella said.
“Now it is time for Kevin Rudd and the women in his party to re-think their decision to reject 2010 as the Year of the Girl Guide. Organisations, such as Girl Guides Australia with a membership of about 21,500, need recognition from the highest levels so that they can continue to provide the fundamentally important programmes that they do for our young girls,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.