by Faith Barorot, Community Development Worker
Reclaiming Girlhood: An Evening with Rae Pears
As part of the Inspiring Women Series, we had the pleasure of hearing about the powerful work of Rae Pears, founder of Girlhood Reclaimed and a passionate advocate for young women, girls, and non-binary youth. Rae’s journey from youth worker to feminist activist academic illuminated both the urgent challenges facing young women today and the transformative potential of creating spaces where they can truly be themselves.
A Journey Rooted in Passion and Purpose
Rae’s story began with a profound passion for working alongside young people, particularly young women, helping them make sense of their experiences and feel empowered to take up space in the world. This calling led her to volunteer with ONE25 and Womankind in Bristol, where she discovered her path into the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector.
As a young mother, Rae found that volunteering maintained her sense of identity while giving her invaluable experience that eventually led to running the Womankind Helpline service. During COVID-19, she discovered her strengths in supporting and training other women through their journeys, which gave her the confidence to pursue her MA in Women and Child Abuse, a degree that brought together VAWG, policy, and psychology.
Addressing the Gap: Why Now?
Following her master’s degree, Rae identified a critical gap in the women’s sector for young women, leading to the founding of Girlhood Reclaimed CIC in November 2024. The organisation provides spaces for girls and women grounded in feminist principles, viewing mental health from a gendered perspective.
Rae’s approach stems from her youth work experience in Knowle West, where she established a girls’ group after observing how mixed spaces often resulted in domination by boys. Despite community pushback questioning the need for gendered spaces, Rae witnessed how separating girls allowed them to be themselves, generating enthusiasm that validated her approach.
The Rising Tide of Casual Misogyny
Central to Rae’s work is addressing the casual misogyny affecting young women daily, in schools, on streets, and in everyday interactions. This harmful behaviour is rising, making it crucial to support young women in recognising harm while providing validation and connection.
Girlhood Reclaimed focuses on disrupting misogyny while helping young women reclaim hope and joy, preventing internalisation of harmful messages and challenging victim-blaming narratives. Currently piloting with girls in Hartcliffe, the organisation helps young women find their voices and take up space in their communities.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Cultural Shift
Rae’s vision extends beyond individual support to broader systemic change. Her long-term goals include working with community leaders, policymakers, and institutions like schools to create the cultural shift necessary to prevent ongoing harm.
As a mother to three daughters, Rae brings personal urgency to her work, witnessing firsthand the world her children must navigate. This reinforces her commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces that support young women in making sense of normalised harm in society.
Throughout her talk, Rae emphasised grounding feminist research in lived experience, ensuring young women’s voices remain central to understanding misogynistic harm. Her inspiring journey demonstrates how passion, combined with academic rigour and practical experience, can create meaningful change. Girlhood Reclaimed offers hope for a future where young women can navigate the world with confidence, knowing their experiences are valid and their voices matter.
Find out more about Girlhood Reclaimed.
Find our next Inspiring Women Talks here.
