UNINTELLIGENT, materialistic, sexually promiscuous and devoid of taste - that is how Essex girls are described in the dictionary.

The unflattering stereotype has sparked a backlash, with real Essex girls uniting to prove the description is wrong.

Nearly 6,500 people have already signed a petition calling for the term to be removed from both the Oxford English Dictionary and Collins Dictionary, and support is mounting.

Natalie Collins, 32, from Basildon, a campaigner for gender equality, fairness and justice, said: “I am massively supportive of this campaign.

“The definition is not a true reflection of Essex women. It has never been an accurate description.

“This is a really good opportunity to have a discussion about the way women in Essex are represented.”

She claims scripted reality TV show The Only Way is Essex has brought the stereotype back to mass attention following its original introduction in the Nineties - when it was used to describe brash party girls.

She added: “The stereotype does have an impact on women’s lives.

“If an Essex women goes for an interview with a strong Essex accent she is less likely to get that job.

“It is not a joke, it is a real thing and is affecting the way people view Essex women.”

Successful businesswoman Amanda Sutton, who set up her own salon in Southend when she was just 18-years-old, hit back, too.

She said: “I don’t think the definition is fair at all.

“It is unfair that they can put something in the dictionary that paints all Essex girls in the same way.

“There are lots of Essex girls who are intelligent and are none of the things they are described as being.

“People do have a perception of Essex girls and being the owner of a salon, people do have a certain perception of me.”

Writing on the petition, Debbie Holdsworth, from Basildon, added: “The definition is derogatory and doesn’t in an any way, describe the fantastic, funny, caring and intelligent women I know in Essex.

“I worry that the ‘promiscuous’ label could easily put my daughters and granddaughters at risk.

“I’m proud of Essex women’s great sense of humour and our ability to laugh at ourselves, but enough is enough.”

Cheryl Greenway, from Southend, added: “I’m from Essex and so are many of the inspirational women I aspire to, and this definition does not define them.”

Echo:

Emma Rider, from Rayleigh, said she was proud of her roots.

She said: “When I’m blessed enough to have children, who may also be born in Essex like myself, I will be telling them on a regular basis that they can do anything they put their mind to, irrelevant of their birthplace.

“Putting people down because it makes others feel better about their own social standing is cowardly and needs to stop.”

Rebecca Grant, from Billericay, added: “How is equality ever going to be achieved if our culture dismisses an entire county’s worth of women based on a stereotype?”

Hitting back at the dictionary definition, Carly Foster, from Southend, added: “In this day in age we should be able to look past stereotypes of any kind. Stereotyping a girl because of where she is from is small minded, judgemental and wrong.

“I am proud to be an Essex girl, and I want to raise my daughter to be proud too.”

To sign the petition, visit the change.org website.