Real Choices, Real Lives: Girls’ Everyday Resistance
This report explores how, around the world, girls are challenging gender norms in creative, courageous, and often unseen ways – but the risks are high.
Through our qualitative and longitudinal research study, Real Choices, Real Lives, Plan International has been following the lives of 142 girls across 9 countries - Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Philippines, Togo, Uganda, and Vietnam – from their births in 2006 through to age 18 in 2024.
By tracking girls’ views, and experiences over the years, this report offers a rare and powerful look into how ordinary girls, who don’t necessarily identify as activists, “do politics” in their everyday lives. While attention often focuses on famous girl activists like Greta Thunberg, Girls’ Everyday Resistance reveals how the majority of the world’s girls engage politically in quieter but equally transformative ways.
The research broadens what we think of as “girls’ in politics”, showing that girls’ everyday forms of resistance – questioning unfair rules, forming friendships across gender lines, refusing chores, or choosing how to spend their money – can drive change in their communities. Girls’ ability to resist depends not only on their courage but also on adults’ willingness to create safer and fairer communities where girls can thrive.
“[My school friends] make fun of me, they say I’m a tomboy, that I’m always playing ball, with the boys… then I tell them that this is sexist, because a girl can play ball just like a boy.”
Juliana, age 12 (2019), Brazil
Learn from girls how they resist
Girls' Everyday Resistance – English
19.81 mb
Key findings
- Girls around the world want to change the status quo. Girls are questioning what they have been taught about gender roles, including expressing frustration at the distribution of chores or their limited freedoms compared to boys.
- Though girls have a strong desire to change the way things are, many girls do not feel able to challenge gender norms as openly as they would wish to, like voicing these opinions to their caregivers or outright disobeying them.
- Most girls are forced to resist gender norms in secret, often under threat of violence. This includes earning money without their caregivers’ knowledge or being in romantic relationships that caregivers are unaware of.
- Fewer than half of the girls can challenge gender norms openly. Examples include dressing or behaving in unexpected ways, standing up to bullying or violence, refusing to do chores, and taking control of their finances by saving money.
“It isn’t fair that women don’t seem to be involved in decision-making. Most of the leaders are men. It’s not fair.”
Jasmine, age 18 (2024), Philippines
Recommendations for change
The report calls on governments, educators, and communities to create an enabling environment for girls to make the kinds of change they’d like to see.
- Governments should strengthen laws that promote equality and ban corporal punishment, fund education and community initiatives that and support girls’ leadership.
- NGOs and civil society must work with caregivers to challenge restrictive gender norms and help girls build skills, networks, and confidence.
- Schools should create safe spaces for girls to speak freely, lead activities, and receive comprehensive sex education.
- Caregivers and community leaders must listen to girls, make them feel safe to share their opinions, and be role models for equality in their households.
“I have school friends who are boys; we play and study together and also have formed a savings group together.”
Ladi, age 15 (2021), Togo
Download the Technical Report
For further detail on the findings and research itself, download the technical report:
Girls' Everyday Resistance – Tech Report – English
2.50 mb
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