Girl Guides gets a ‘woke’ makeover with a new ‘inclusive’ language orientation

The Guidelines have been given a new ‘awakened’ style guide with ‘inclusive’ language telling leaders to use ‘parents and caregivers’ instead of mother and father.

A 60-page document sent to the leaders of the Guides and Brownies groups has set out the new language guide on ‘how to be as inclusive as possible when communicating’.

Britain’s largest girls’ group described itself as a “girls-only space for all girls and young women”.

But she adds that she also prides herself on “being a trans-inclusive organization and welcoming to trans girls and non-binary youth.”

The guide says: ‘We know that the term ‘girl’ may not cover these young people and of course the language is always evolving.

Angela Salt OBE, CEO of Girlguiding, joined the organization in January 2019.

‘When we can, we adjust our language to be gender neutral. This helps us to include all young people who relate to the experiences of childhood and womanhood.’

As part of the new style guide, the leaders advised using ‘parents and caregivers’ instead of ‘mothers and fathers’ to be more inclusive.

The broad term ‘BAME’ should be avoided, with advice to use ‘people of colour’ instead and be specific when talking about a person or community.

He says: ‘If you’re talking about the experiences of non-white people, ‘people of color’ is more common around the world.

‘Avoid the term ‘minority group’ as a blanket term for underrepresented groups, as underrepresented does not always mean a minority. Instead, use marginalized or underrepresented groups.’

Leaders have also been told to avoid ‘age descriptors’ such as ‘young, old or elderly’ because they can ‘reinforce negative stereotypes’.

Instead, the new guidance advises Girl Guide leaders to be precise and give an age range such as “people 60 and older.”

If a leader is unsure which pronoun to use when referring to a particular individual, they are encouraged to ask the person or use ‘they’ as the singular pronoun.

Terms like ‘heroic’ and ‘inspirational’ should not be used of disabled people simply for existing with a disability, he says, to avoid being ‘condescending’.

It comes after Girlguiding bosses were accused of promoting “woke nonsense” after advising leaders to learn nearly 100 terms related to gender and sexual identity in July last year.

She advised staff to learn a glossary of words like ‘aromantic’, ‘demisexual’ and ‘agender’, saying ‘it might be worth printing it out… so you can refer to it’ with children.

Former education minister Andrea Jenkyns criticized the guide as evidence the group has lost its way.

The glossary also includes ‘pansexual’, ‘attraction to members of all gender identities/expressions’, and ‘constellation’, the structure of polyamorous relationships. The guide, first reported on by the Sunday Express, encourages girls to learn the glossary in a task called a ‘vocabulary quirk’.

Former education minister Andrea Jenkyns said The express: “Girl Guides have been at the heart of our country for over a century, teaching millions of young women the skills they need to become proud, proactive and practical members of society.

‘What this “woke” rebranding tells us is that the Guides have lost their way.’

The tone of voice document follows a similar style guide given to Scout leaders in July of last year, which prohibited boys from using the terms ‘fall on deaf ears’, ‘man-made’ and ‘dinner ladies’. ‘ in July of last year.

Children were also banned from using their ‘maiden name’ and given name’ in a move to avoid offending people of ‘all genders, religions, races and those living with a disability’.

Instead, Scouts are told to use ‘given name’ or ‘given name’, while ‘former name’ is preferred to ‘maiden name’ as it is an ‘obsolete term’.

A Girl Guides spokesperson said: “Changing our appearance doesn’t change the core of who we are, but it keeps us current and helps us be attractive to as many people as possible.”