Girls With Goals
Girls With Goals
A 6-week programme to support young women to explore issues that impact their lives.
Girls with Goals is a new 6-week programme co-designed by and for young women aged 14-18, with the issues that matter to them at the heart of it.
From January–June 2024, we worked with an advisory panel of young women in Clydebank High School to create Girls with Goals. Now, we are delighted to be able to offer this to high schools and youth groups across Scotland.
The programme provides a safe and brave space for young women aged 14-18 to feel informed and empowered and explore issues that impact their day to day lives.
It is designed to be 6 weeks long, running over six 2-hour sessions, and explores the topics that young women told us are important to them.
The course
Session 1
Introduction to Girls with Goals
In our first session, the group will set personal goals for the rest of the programme, get to know each other, and be introduced to some key feminist thinking including intersectionality.
Session 2
Education and work
This session explores gender expectations and stereotypes and how they impact the ways young women think about their future. It will centre discussions around young women’s experiences in education and the workplace, and on empowering the group to think about their personal goals and ambitions.
Session 3
Gender and sport
This session explores gender inequality in the context of sport, including the gym, PE and competitive sports. Following on from the previous session, it digs deeper into gender stereotyping and double standards and how these hold young women back from engaging in and enjoying physical activity.
Session 4
Beauty standards
This session is intended to develop understanding of beauty standards, body image and diet culture: where they come from and how they show up in their lives. Through group discussions, analysis of advertisements and a craft exercise, the session is designed to encourage critical thinking skills that young women can take away and use.
Session 5
Medical misogyny
This session delves into the history of gender inequality in a medical context and how it shows up in the lives of young women today. There is an opportunity for independent research, peer support and guidance on self-advocacy designed to give young women tools to use outside of the session.
Session 6
Young Women Unite!
This session is designed to explore relationships between young women, why violence and aggression might occur, internalised misogyny, and the value of solidarity. It draws on research by The Young Women’s Movement and YouthLink’s ‘No Knives Better Lives’ to give focus to an under-researched area – violence between women.
When participating in the programme, young women can expect:
- to have their voices heard in a safe space
- to create positive relationships
- to gain knowledge/skills
- to learn about feminism, gender inequality, and issues that impact their lives as young women
- to celebrate their achievements
- that The Young Women’s Movement will do their best to support their needs and provide further opportunities for personal development.
Interested in Girls With Goals for your school?
Fill in the form below to enquire about delivering Girls With Goals in your school or youth group. This is currently available for secondary schools and youth groups across Scotland.