The Girl Scouts is a renowned and cherished institution founded in the US in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. Today, the Girl Scouts is a global movement that aims to empower young girls to become confident, courageous, and compassionate leaders. It provides a platform for girls to explore their interests, develop their talents, and make a positive impact on their communities and the world at large.

One of the remarkable aspects of Girl Scouts is its inclusivity. Girl Scouts Overseas is open to all children of foreign passport holders, starting from as young as 5 years old. This early start allows girls to embark on their journey of self-discovery and personal development at a tender age.

Through a variety of activities, such as camping, community service projects, and skill-building workshops, the kids in the Girl Scouts learn essential life skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. They also have the chance to make lasting friendships and build a sense of sisterhood with like-minded peers.

The organization emphasizes leadership development, encouraging girls to take on responsibilities, voice their opinions, and drive change. Whether it’s organizing a charity event, leading a group on an adventure, or advocating for a cause they believe in, girls in the Girl Scouts gain the confidence and skills needed to make a difference.

In addition to the practical skills and leadership opportunities, being a Girl Scout is also about having fun creating memories, and making friendships that will last a lifetime.

If you have a child aged 5 or above with a foreign passport, don’t miss this wonderful opportunity for her to join the Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts Beijing is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community and is open to all girls. For more information, join the WeChat group below.

So, come and be a part of the Girl Scouts family this school year and unlock a world of possibilities for your child. Together, we can shape a future where girls are empowered to shine bright and make their mark on the world.

Images: Girl Scouts Beijing

I think all parents, regardless of where in the world we are, can wholeheartedly agree on the challenges of parenting in the 21^st century! With the advent of the internet and social media, there are now more voices, more information, more pressures, and more awareness of how we are raising our children.

Listening to my mother, who raised three kids in the 80’s, it was definitely a simpler time back then. However, that doesn’t mean it was a better time. It was a time when girls were meant to be quiet, submissive, and well-behaved, oh — and pretty, don’t forget pretty! I was the stereotypical little quiet girl who wore dresses when I was supposed to, did what I was told, and endured many years of listening to strangers, friends, and family comment on what I looked like or what I was wearing — like every single other girl I know. True to form, I became an exercise fanatic in my teens to ensure I could be as thin as what society expected me to be and as beautiful as teen magazines told me to be. After all, most of my self-worth was tied up in what I looked like – just like society wants it. Now I look back and think wow, this is the very definition of indoctrination and it is not what I want for my own daughter.

As I worked on how I’d like my daughter and her friends to feel growing up, a few very simple resolutions are clear.

Girls – What NOT to say

You’re so pretty! – Or in fact anything about what they look like. Do not comment on their beautiful eyes, their long legs, their hair, etc. Ask yourself: would I say the same thing to a little boy of the same age? All these unsolicited comments do is objectify the girl and make her (and probably her parents) feel very uncomfortable. Little girls are really not very different from little boys – and their sole value in life does not lie in what they look like.

Say instead – Ask her what her favourite subject is at school, what she likes to do on the weekends, what hobbies and sports does she play? Does she have a great sense of humor? Is she a fast runner? Focus on what she can do rather than be.

“Don’t be bossy” – I outlawed this word from our house as soon as I found out I was having a girl. With this one word, you send the message that girls cannot be leaders, and if they try nobody will like them. When was the last time you heard a boy being called bossy?

Say instead – “You’re showing some great leadership skills.” Maybe they need to work on improving their collaboration skills or teamwork but do not shame them by throwing out the word ‘bossy’.

“Be careful” – This statement casts doubt on a girl’s ability to achieve something and discourages risk-taking. All children need to take risks in order to develop properly.

Say instead – Keep going. I trust that you can do it.

Boys – What NOT to say

“Don’t cry” – Please don’t say this to boys (or girls). I often see parents looking embarrassed if their boys are crying – why? This is a normal human emotion that everyone should be allowed to express. Psychologists say this suppressing of emotions is what has lead to generations of violent, angry, and insecure men who are too afraid to express their vulnerability for fear of being ridiculed. This can easily lead to depression, anxiety, and domestic violence later in life.

Say instead – I see you’re having some big feelings. Do you want me to help/hold you or do you want to talk about it? Parents of boys and girls have told me they’ll sometimes ask if the child wants to be comforted or if he needs a minute alone. Let them decide how to handle the crying.

“Don’t be such a girl” or describing an action as ‘girly’ – This is interpreted as anything feminine or related to girls is somehow ‘bad’, ‘less than’ or second best. If you want to raise a son who respects women as his equal and is more likely to have happy and fulfilled friendships, it doesn’t pay to start de-valuing the opposite sex in childhood.

Say instead — Nothing. Let them play how they want to play.

While the 80’s was a great time to be a kid, it was also a pretty narrow world to grow up where prejudice was the norm and anyone who was different had a difficult time. Now, 40 years later, we have a lot more information and knowledge than we did back then. Let’s use it for the better and allow our kids to grow up in a world where they can truly be who they want to be, not who someone else wants them to be.

KEEP READING: Pink for Boys, Blue for Girls – You Are (Not) What You Wear

Photos: Unsplash, Women of Color in Tech

Girl Scouts may be something familiar to many expats. But as a third culture kid born in Beijing, I’ve never known much about the Girl Scouts, all I knew was that they sold delicious Girl Scout cookies. I only recently found out that they have a location in Beijing, curious, we decided to find out a bit more from Amy Kennedy on what they do and how girls can get involved.

What are Girl Scouts?     

Girl Scouting builds girls who have courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girls can earn badges by doing activities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), the Outdoors, Entrepreneurship, and Life Skills. Two adult leaders lead a small troop of up to twelve girls. Girls choose from a wide variety of badges in STEM, Outdoors, Entrepreneurship, and Life Skills. Troops are girl-led so every troop works on slightly different activities based on the girls’ interests. Girls can design “Take Action” projects that help improve some aspect of their community.

When did the Girl Scout program start for Beijing?

It started back in 1925 in Shanghai, Girl Scouting overseas has been supporting over 12,500 girls in over 90 places in the world and has now been operating in Beijing for over 20 years.

I heard Girl Scouts originates from the US, so from your experience, what’s the biggest difference with Girl Scouts here in Beijing compared to the US?

Here in Beijing, the girl scouts are a part of the USA Girl Scouts Overseas council. We have meetings and events just like Girl Scouts in the US, but one big difference is – we don’t sell cookies due to import regulations. On the plus side, we go hiking on the Great Wall of China, which most Girl Scouts in the US don’t have the opportunity to do.

Are there different groups of Girl Scouts? If so, how are they organized?

Girls can join when they start kindergarten, and we go all the way through grade 12. Girls are grouped in troops made up of two grades. Daisy Girl Scouts are in K-grade 1, Brownies are in grade 2-3, etc.

What is the ultimate goal for Girl Scouts?

We have Highest Awards for girls in grades 6-12. Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Many high school level girls strive to earn the Gold Award which is an eighty-hour community service project. It is comparable to the Boy Scout Eagle Scout Award and an honor within Girl Scouting. Last year, two high school seniors at International School of Beijing (ISB) earned the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Is there a schedule for Girl Scouts? How does that work?

We start up troop meetings in the fall and meet, usually twice a month, through the school year. In years past we have had annual events – Fall Hike, Winter Dance, STEM Day, Campout, and Bridging Ceremony. This year may look a little different in regard to our annual events due to COVID-19. We run through the school year and as most of our membership are expats and leave Beijing for the summers, we do not offer any summer programming. Girls develop friendships over time since many troops stay together for a number of years.

I heard that you only accept expats. Would you ever consider opening a program to Chinese passport holders?

Currently, girl scouts only accept expat girls. They also run Girl Scouts as an after-school program at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) and ISB, so any girl enrolled at either school can join, and girls who’d like to join must also be comfortable English speakers as well.

How can people join Girl Scouts?

The most challenging part is finding adult volunteers who are ready to jump in and lead girls or join our Leadership Council. Beijing is a busy place for expats. We provide excellent online learning and support, we have a strong program and most of our volunteers are parents of young girls – so therefore, already experts on what girls enjoy doing!

Parents and interested adult volunteers can email beijinggirlscouts@usagso.org to find out more. One caveat – the only way to make sure your daughter has a place in a troop, is to volunteer to lead a troop yourself! Leading a troop is a great way to form bonds with other parents and have fun doing meaningful activities with your daughters. The more interested and excited a parent is, the more the girls will get out of it.

Volunteering with Girl Scouts, either as a leader or a member of the leadership council is a very rewarding experience. You get to meet other adults you might not normally get to meet, make lifelong friends, and often times, learn some new skills along the way. And teaching leadership skills to young girls is an amazing opportunity!

KEEP READING: Khan Academy: How Free Online Math Courses Helped Me

Photos: Courtesy of Amy Kennedy

Girls of courage, confidence, and character! Scouting has a rich history of aiming to help young girls cultivate each of these values and then some.

If your daughter would like to participate, registration is coming up! The Beijing Girl Scouts Chapter is hosting an info session for their program from 10am-12pm at both the International School of Beijing (ISB) on Aug 24 and Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) on Aug 31.

The Girl Scouts team will also be recruiting leaders for newly forming troops and parents can also volunteer to help out. USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO) serves girls living overseas and girls attending American or international Schools. All girls with foreign (non-Chinese) passports can join and there are places available for kids from K-12.

USAGSO has been working with communities and volunteers in Beijing to bring outdoor experiences to the many girls attending school here and to help the Girl Scout Promise flourish all over China:

On my best to be

Honest and fair,

Friendly and helpful,

Considerate and caring,

Courageous and strong, and

Responsible for what I say and do,

and to

respect myself and others,

Respect authority,

Use resources wisely,

Make the world a better place, and

Be a sister to every Girl Scout.

USAGSO has been part of the national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA since 1925. There are Girl Scout Chapters across China, in cities including Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Suzhou.

It’s time for G.I.R.L – go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders. There’s so much positivity and wonder to be had for young girls who participate and plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, forge new friendships, and have fun! What are you waiting for? Get your daughter signed up. For more information on how and where to register please contact Amy Kennedy (beijinggirlscouts@usagso.org, 185 1505 3922).

Photos: Pixabay

Last week my daughter received a present that is so super special I had to write about it. My dear friend,  who moved back to the USA, brought this book back for our four-year-old. Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls tells the tales of 100 extraordinary women, women that have died and women that are still alive. I can’t go on about this book enough; our daughter has been picking five women each night to read about.

Truthfully she is drawn to the pretty pictures, but we are now reading about many inspirational women that are great examples for little girls, big adult girls,  and boys around the world. This book is great to pave the way for young children to live their dreams and do things that might be unimaginable. Almost all the stories start with “Once upon a time…” and tell the tales of women like Yoko Ono, an artist, Misty Copeland, a ballerina, Maud Stevens Wagner, a tattoo artist, and many more incredible life stories that need to be told.

To the rebel girls of the world:

Dream bigger

Aim higher

Fight harder

And, when in doubt, remember

You are right.

This book takes “Once upon a time” from fairy tales to real life. It’s the most treasured addition to our home library,  and when we move this will be the first book I pack for our daughter. The best bit is at the end, where they’ve left a page empty for your child to tell her “Once upon a time”, and draw her self portrait. My daughter already did this, and she asks me to add more and more to her story.

The website of Rebel Girls is filled with information that is to be treasured. I have printed my own e-book of How To Raise Confident Girls by Elena Favilli, and I can’t wait to share this with my husband. Buy your own copy of the book here and share it far and wide with the girls, women, and men in your life. I promise you won’t regret it.

Click here to find the book for sale in China.

Photos: www.rebelgirls.com

buildingblockstoys.com

goodreads.com

Beijing is not short of charities that we can support. One charity which is not located in Beijing, but has a huge support network here, came to my attention when one of my expat friends told me about it. “Days for Girls” provides girls with sustainable sanitary products. My friend would sew them herself, and went on a volunteer trip to give them to girls in need. The stories that she told me were truly heartbreaking, and heartwarming at the same time.

During my time in Beijing, I have met more inspiring women who volunteer for “Days for Girls”; they spend their time caring for these girls with very simple needs. Several clothes auctions have donated their proceeds to this cause.

“Every girl and woman with ready access to feminine hygiene, by 2022. Days for Girls is dedicated to creating a more free, dignified, and educated world, through providing lasting access to feminine hygiene solutions and health education. Thus far, Days for Girls has reached over 800,000 women and girls. We can reach them all, with your help”

I remember my first period vividly, I was 12 years old and it was summer. I was at the public pool, ready to change into my bathing suit when I saw something red in my underwear. I and my friend had to return home, without jumping in the pool. I had half a toilet roll stuffed in my underpants while biking through our neighborhood. Back home my mother was gardening, and when I told her she congratulated me. I was confused. I am bleeding and you congratulate me?

From then I started to have monthly cramps; they were unbearable. I bled so much, even my mother was confused that I used so many sanitary pads. My back pains and cramps were so horrible, I would stay home from school. Every month I would vomit from pain, and on one occasion I fainted in my friend’s bathroom. I was brought to the doctor and put on birth control to ease my pain and my unstoppable bleeding. I was only 12 years old, not even in high school, not even close to being an adult.

There are girls in this world that have no sanitary pads. They have to sit on a cardboard box till their bleeding stops. They have to pause their lives every month. “Celeste Mergens founded Days for Girls at a time when virtually no other organizations were speaking about the global need for menstrual hygiene management solutions.” Days for Girls’ website brings a tear and a smile to my face. All these volunteers making and distributing reusable sanitary kits for girls around the world. For more information visit their website, and be ready to be amazed. www.daysforgirls.org

“Every girl and woman has inherent worth and dignity. Days for Girls celebrates this by providing sustainable feminine hygiene solutions and health education. When girls and women have health, education, and opportunity, communities and our world are stronger.”

Photos: www.daysforgirls.org

Beauty is subjective. Beauty is culturally bias. Beauty and body are influenced by films, TV, magazine, and toys. Yes, toys. Not only dolls but toys in general. Gendered toys and how they relate to the imposed standards of body and beauty has been a topic of discussion which has generated many theses. A study on the negative effects of Barbie, a regular target for feminists, found that the girls’ body image is greatly affected by the mother’s attitude according to this Guardian article.

In December 2006, Peggy Orenstein’s New York Times article, What’s Wrong with Cinderella (VPN needed), pointed out that there were no studies to prove a direct link to playing princess and damages to girls’ self-esteem or other aspirations. The vice president of Design at Mattel said: “Girls view the world completely differently than grown-ups do. They don’t come at it with the same angles and baggage and all that stuff that we do. Clearly, the influences for girls on those types of issues, whether it’s body image or anything else, it’s proven, it’s peers, moms, parents, it’s their social circles.” in an article on Time Magazine in 2014.

A Guardian article published two days ago shares a new study from the Brigh that shows Disney princesses have contributed to ‘body image’ issues in young girls. A little context might be needed here. In 2000, Disney debuted its Princess brand that sells toys, games, figurines, and various accessories based on Disney classics such as Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, and non princess Mulan and Pocahontas. The later characters attires had to be redesigned under the new brand to fit the Princess theme. The brand has made over USD5.5 billion for the company since the sale of this merchandise was made available on the shelves.

The study titled “Pretty as a Princess” found that Disney’s Princess brand showed that “over time, girls with body esteem issues were more likely to “engage more with the Disney Princesses over time” according to the article.

The author of the study Sarah M Coyne supported the 2013 protests against the redesigned image of Disney’s Brave character Merida. According to the article , Coyne wrote: “Disney Princesses represent some of the first examples of exposure to the thin ideal. As women, we get it our whole lives, and it really does start at the Disney Princess level, at age three and four.”

Body image is a serious issue among adolescents. In a 2015 beijingkids article, the author looked at the rise of eating disorders and role that the Internet has played in creating online community groups based around disorders. The most crucial part of this article is that body image affects both boys and girls. The impact that dolls have on body image will still make great fodder for dissertation studies in the future as fact and fiction are separated.

In Orenstein’s article, she points out: “there is evidence that young women who hold the most conventionally feminine beliefs — who avoid conflict and think they should be perpetually nice and pretty — are more likely to be depressed than others and less likely to use contraception. What’s more, the 23 percent decline in girls’ participation in sports and other vigorous activity between middle and high school has been linked to their sense that athletics is unfeminine.”

She continues to look at the narrowing options that young girls are afforded in the supermarket, clothing stores, and more. She concluded the issue was primarily the limiting number of options available in the girls section of a store as compared to the boys section. The study by Coyne did find that the Disney Princess was limiting gender stereotypes.

Photo: sites.psu.edu

Next month, Krav Maga Beijing is once again hosting a four-part self-defense workshop specially designed for women and teenage girls (ages 15 and up). Book by March 22 and get an early bird discount.

Every Sunday in April, participants will learn techniques and strategies specifically geared towards dealing with bigger and stronger attackers. Topics include striking and turning on aggression, fostering awareness and avoiding dangerous situations, navigating low-light situations, dealing with grabs, pulls, and chokes, and more. Male Krav Maga Beijing students will be on hand to help and stand in as attackers. 

Krav Maga is a self-defense system originally developed for the Israeli military. It focuses on real-life situations and emphasizes situational awareness, preemptive attacks or aggressive counter-attacks, and targeting the opponent’s weak points (e.g. groin, eyes, throat, and knees).

Full disclosure: I’m hopelessly biased. Since writing about the self-defense workshop last year, my friend and I have become regular attendees, even partnering together for the the P1 proficiency exam in January.

Along the way, we’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing people (male and female) and learn self-defense in a fun, supportive environment.

Here’s what some of my fellow female students had to say about Krav Maga and Krav Maga Beijing classes:

"[Krav Maga] gives me the confidence and ability to defend myself, especially when I travel alone in new places and foreign countries. Also, my physical strength and lifestyle have also changed in a positive way."

– Carmen (China)

"[Krav Maga] has given me more confidence knowing how to behave in some difficult situations. It’s good to know that even if you are a woman who maybe doesn’t have as much strength as a guy, there are some very effective techniques with which you can defuse a dangerous situation and get out of it. Last but not least, I got a lot of fun out of it!"

– Nathalie (Switzerland)

"I’ve gotten to understand my body better. I am more confident that now, after less than a year in training, I have enough capability to protect myself in case of an attack, a robbery, or if someone decides to casually grope me on a subway – that has happened before. Even going back to my hometown of Moscow – not the safest city in the world – this year was a very different experience from before. I was more aware of my surroundings and was confident enough to walk down a dark alley by myself. Last but not least, it’s empowering, physically and mentally."

– Anna (Russia)

"’What should I do if I encounter bad people?’ That’s the question that led me to Krav Maga. I’ve encountered dangerous people in the past and came out unharmed, but the disparity in height and strength [between men and women], combined with the lack the courage and skill to fight back in dangerous situations, means that women are often the victims. I have to fight back and rely on myself to escape from danger and avoid becoming a statistic.

Krav Maga classes simulate various attacks and counter-attacks with people of different sizes and strength. Female participants can directly experience how to deal with various crisis situations to protect themselves and their family.

Thanks to Krav Maga, I’ve gained confidence in both my everyday life and at work. It has become a personal interest; through the weekly classes, I have developed a much clearer sense of my physical abilities and fitness goals. Krav Maga is also a great source of stress relief and exercises the mind. Many of my classmates have become good friends. I’m grateful to instructors [Von Ng, Yonina Chan, and Richard Collett] for making the classes so interesting!"

– Qiong (China)

Until March 22, there is an early bird price of RMB 1,150 per person or RMB 2,100 per pair (regular price: RMB 1,400 per person or RMB 2,400 per pair).

The women’s self-defense classes will take place on April 3, April 10, April 17, and April 24 from 1-2.30pm. All self-defense packages also include 10 hours’ worth of regular Krav Maga classes (valid until April 30).

To register, call or SMS 150 1024 6131 or email info@kravmagabeijing.com.

Sijia Chen is a contributing editor at beijingkids and a freelance writer who has covered travel, tech, culture, parenting, and the environment. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, The Independent, the Beijinger, Midnight Poutine, and more. Follow her on Twitter at @sijiawrites or email her at sijiachen@beijing-kids.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Krav Maga Beijing

As our daughter nears 8, I can safely say we have dodged the Barbie bullet. Nor is there any evidence in our home of the existence of Smurfs. There was only one more line of toys I hoped to avoid and that was My Little Pony. As an uncle, I was forced to spend way too many hours with all three of these brands and I wanted nothing to do with them as a parent. Alas, my luck ran out on the ponies.

For over a year, girl-child had a been full of second-hand My Little Ponies that she rarely touched; they simply didn’t interest her. I took this as a good sign. Perhaps the unwanted toys were like a vaccination against them. But sometime last summer, she started grooming them in the bathroom sink with her friends. That’s when I knew we were doomed. Our world exploded in "ponydom" with books, videos, music, blankets, PJs and more.

Worse than all the horsing around in the past, I was recruited as a gaming consultant and now I assist her in the mundane tasks on her iPad app. I suppose this makes me an unwitting "brony" (male fans of My Little Pony).

Naturally, her brothers have picked up on the My Little Pony action and I frequently hear them running through the home declaring they are Applejack and Rainbow Dash. It could be worse; at least they are not pretending to be Sorority Barbie and Goth Barbie. Not yet anyway.

Photos: Lisa Brewster