by Janet Murray, Telegraph
Parents raise concerns about ‘inappropriate’ activities exploring gender stereotypes and identification
Teenage girls in Dorset have been introduced to non-binary identities during a Girlguiding meeting, The Telegraphhas learnt.
Leaders were advised to divide Guides into “team boy” and “team girl” to discuss stereotypes before talking about the concept of non-binary identification during a session titled “Binary Breakdown” this week.
An activity sheet with the same name, produced in conjunction with Stonewall, a charity supporting LGBT rights, said some people do not identify as male or female and may feel that they are “somewhere in between” or “neither”.
It also included a series of questions for discussion, including how someone who identifies as non-binary might feel choosing clothes, toys or toothbrushes “if most things are gendered”.
A father who discovered the activity sheet online raised concerns about the Girlguiding session, as he did not wish his daughter to be taught about gender identities.
In a WhatsApp exchange seen by The Telegraph, the unit leader said the man’s understanding was “roughly” correct, but that she would adapt the activity for the girl’s age group.
He was told that the Guides would be asked to sort toys, including dolls and cars, according to whether they associated them with boys or girls.
But the father, who asked to remain anonymous, took the decision to withdraw his teenage daughter from the session.
“I’m happy for her to collect leaves with her friends, bake cakes and learn about hedgehogs,” he told The Telegraph. “I don’t expect her to receive sex education or be taught about gender identities.
“There are two biological sexes. No-one is non-binary. That is my belief. As a parent, I don’t want to be wary of Girlguiding. They shouldn’t do politics at all.”