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The New Normal? What Girls Say About Healthy Living
Girl Scouts of the USA commissioned this research study of 2,060 girls to address the dimensions of girls’ health-related attitudes and behaviors. What they found is that girls today seek the status quo - looking to find the safe middle ground where they feel and will be perceived as "normal.” The major findings of this study reveal that girls use a new set of norms to define health that depart from what adults may believe in four distinct ways:
For most girls, being healthy has more to do with appearing "normal" and feeling accepted than maintaining good diet and exercise habits.
Emotional health, self-esteem, and body image play a critical role in girls’ attitudes about diet and exercise.
Although girls demonstrate basic knowledge about health foods and eating behaviors, they often do not put this knowledge into practice, and it is “normal” for many girls to make poor choices with respect to diet and exercise.
Mothers were the most frequently cited source of information on healthy living and they clearly function as role models for their daughters.
Click on the link above to learn more about the study. ++++++++++ The SuperGirl Dilemma
A new Girls Incorporated research report reveals that girls today experience intense pressure, at ever younger ages, to be everything to everyone all of the time. Girls are particularly frustrated with the growing expectations that girls should please everyone, be very thin, and dress “right.” To get a copy of the full report of The Supergirl Dilemma in pdf format, contact Taiia Smart Young at TSYoung@girls-inc.org ++++++++++ “Mission Possible” Program for Girls
Girls in trouble with the law in Orange County, Calif. are being taught how to act, dress and even salsa as part of an ambitious project to boost their self-esteem and provide them with the basic social skills and support they will need to lead productive lives.
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Girl Scouting Overhauls Itself
Following more than two years of research and input from thousands of scouts and nonscouts, volunteers and staff, Girl Scouts of the USA is undertaking its first overhaul in more than 30 years. The organization was rattled to discover girls say adults aren’t paying attention to many issues they deal with in daily life: Over scheduling, bullying (especially over the Internet and via cell phone text messaging), “cutting” (self-mutilation), and teen pregnancy. More than 40% of girls aren’t raising their hands in class because they’re afraid of being labeled smart -- and being bullied for it. The planned overhaul will balance between the need for flexibility and the retention of bedrock values and programs.
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Does the Fashion Industry Warp Young Girls’ Body Image?
According to this article, most runway models are 14 to 19 years old, with an average age of 16 or 17. Many are 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11. They average 120 to 124 pounds. They wear a size 2 or 4. They are naturally thin and have incredibly long legs compared to the rest of their body. Some of them are teens who haven’t developed their curves yet. The thin sexy ideal represented by models and actresses is impossible to attain for most girls and women, leading to unhealthy behaviors to try to control weight. This image is filtering down to girls as young as 9 and 10. ++++++++++ Young Latinas at Risk
Latina girls, one of the fastest-growing groups of youths in the country, are in trouble. Research shows they are more likely to drop out of school and to use drugs and one in six of them attempt suicide. In this half-hour episode of Talk of the Nation, NPR invited researchers and a reporter to talk about the risks to high school age Latinas who are first or second generation in the United States. In addition to suicide, they also experience depression, social isolation, and have the highest rate of teen pregnancy among all girls. These young women attempt to straddle two cultures: traditional Hispanic culture and the woman’s role in it they get at home from their mothers, and the freedoms associated with American culture they get in school and elsewhere in our society. Click on the link above to listen to this interview. ++++++++++ Study Finds Florida Justice System Harsh to Underage Girls
A study conducted by NCCD has found that Florida’s juvenile justice system locks up a higher percentage of underage girls than 46 other states, hands out stiffer punishment to girls than boys, and doesn’t provide the kind of treatment girls need. Barry Krisberg, NCCD President, said “Girls’ programs are often boys’ programs painted pink. What we have found is that these programs, by and large, don’t work.” The study found that Florida’s girl offenders often have more emotional problems and treatment needs that are at the root of many girls’ crimes. Researchers interviewed 319 Florida girls in juvenile programs. They found: 49% were self-mutilators. 34% had attempted suicide. 35% were pregnant or had been. 46% had an alcohol or substance abuse problem.
In contrast, boys more frequently broke the law because of peer pressure or gang activity. ++++++++++ Girl Connection The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women Task Force distributes a free quarterly newsletter insert to girl-serving agencies, juvenile justice system personnel and other interested professionals across Iowa. A newsletter insert provides research and program suggestions related to gender-specific services. The one page insert is always distributed on white paper for easy reproduction and distribution. Click on the link above to download a variety of materials and information on girls. The June issue, Addiction and Empowerment, isn’t posted on the web site yet, but should be shortly. It discusses the traditional 12 step approach in the context of girls and finds the 12 steps need to be adapted to meet their needs. If you don't want to wait to read Addiction and Empowerment, I have a hard copy and I'll either mail or fax it to you. Send me an email with your fax number or USPO mailing address. ++++++++++ Major Study on Girls With ADHD: The Risks to Girls Are as Real as for Boys
A major long-term study of girls diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in elementary school has found they are at greater risk for substance abuse, emotional problems and academic difficulties in adolescence than their peers who don’t have ADHD. The study is a much anticipated five year followup study of one of the largest samples of girls with ADHD ever examined.
To read an article in Medical News TODAY about the study, click here. ++++++++++ |
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