A third of young women in the UK are worried they won't be able to balance work and family - and fear it may ultimately cost them a successful career.
A survey by global children’s charity Plan International UK to mark International Day of the Girl (October 11) found that girls as young as 14 are already worrying that becoming a parent will stop them from pursuing the top jobs in their future career.
The survey of 1,000 girls and woman aged between 14 and 24 found that 31% of girls and young women worry about being perceived as less competent and dependable at work if they choose to become a mother.
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It also found that 25% of girls and young women feel the difficulty of juggling work and childcare will stop them pursuing a leadership role, and 18% of girls and young women feel the pressure from friends and family to have children will also stall their careers.
International Day of the Girl celebrates the incredible potential of girls and challenges outdated stereotypes and unfair expectations that can hold them back professionally.
This International Day of the Girl, girls are taking over businesses, boardrooms, politics and media, showing they belong in the seats of power and influence.
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Seventeen-year-old Dunmi stepped into the shoes of LADBible Group CEO Solly Solomou for the day.
She attended editorial and commercial meetings, saw behind-the-scenes of the studio and interviewed the editor of Tyla at the Women@LAD network meet to discuss how to navigate a career in online media.
Elsewhere, Clara, 18, took over Emily Eavis’ role as Head of Glastonbury Festival, where she toured the site and contributed to a meeting about the festival’s new period dignity campaign.
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And Andy Burnham’s position as Mayor of Manchester was taken over by Olivia, 21, at the Greater Manchester Green Summit.
Rose Caldwell, CEO at Plan International UK, says: “Seeing girls take over business, politics and media is an inspiring celebration of the incredible potential of girls. The talent, ideas and strength of girls has the power to change the world, but change isn’t coming fast enough, and girls tell us they have had enough of the empty rhetoric.
“Together with girls we can make sure International Day of the Girl becomes more than just a day in the calendar, but a catalyst for powering a world where every girl can reach her potential.”
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Around the world, 129 million girls are currently unable to go to school, 12 million girls are forced to marry each year and at least 500 million women and girls don’t have what they need to manage their periods.
In honour of International Day of the Girl, this October Plan International UK is asking people to start a regular gift of £3 a month to help amplify the voices of girls around the world.
Those who join the Fierce Voices community this October will receive a limited edition #DayOfTheGirl tote bag.
To find out more about joining, go to the Plan International UK website: https://plan-uk.org/donate/fierce-voices
The Tyla Team