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 | What young women want |
Young women from YWCA centres around England and Wales want to tell you about the things they want the next government to change for young women.
| Young women need good sex and relationships education |
Young women tell us that they want sex and relationships education which is about contraception, staying safe, STIs and emotional stuff, too... more than just the biology!
Young women have the right to high-quality sex and relationships education as a compulsory part of the national curriculum. Young women need sex and relationships education at an early age if they are to make realistic, informed choices when they do become sexually active.
To download a fuller briefing on this issue, click here.
| Young women just want to be listened to |
Young women don’t feel that they are consulted or listened to by the professionals in their lives or by politicians. They want their say and their opinions taken into account.
Young women should have opportunities to be active citizens and should be consulted about decisions that affect their lives. However, poverty and low educational achievement may prevent young women from becoming active in their communities.
To download a fuller briefing on this issue, click here.
| Young women want to have things to do and places to go |
Young women say that they don’t have anywhere to go in the evenings and at weekends - this means many hang around on the streets, which may lead to under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour. Young women want to have places to go and things to do. Politicians should create affordable youth facilities that are welcoming to young women in every area.
To download a fuller briefing on this issue, click here.
| Young women want to feel safe when they're out and about |
Young women want to get to and from school, college, work and leisure activities safely and easily. They want politicians to make sure that public transport is reliable, reasonably-priced, frequent and runs throughout the evening, and they want their neighbourhoods to be safer and well-lit.
Young women are concerned about becoming victims of crime or violence, especially when they are out at night. Young women worry about long waiting times for public transport and dark, isolated bus stops and train stations.
To download a fuller briefing on this issue, click here.
| Young women want help to make the bullying stop |
Young women want to get the most out of their education, without fear of being bullied. Many feel that teachers and professionals can’t or won’t help. Politicians and professionals should do more to stop bullying and support young women who have been bullied.
For many young women bullying is a distressing experience. It can lead to some girls dropping out of school and missing out on education. All forms of bullying, including racist and homophobic bullying, must be challenged, and schools must have effective policies and practices in place to deal with bullying.
To download a fuller briefing on this issue, click here.
What do you think are the most important issues? Have your say in our poll
For more information about any of these issues or what you can do to change things for young women, please contact Antonia Bance.
Illustrations by Rosie Brooks
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