Parents’ Coalition was honored to be invited to the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts (and yes, I was a girl scout – and a brownie!). This year, 2012, Girl Scouts celebrates 100 years of encouraging scouting and leadership among girls. As part of the celebration, Girl Scouts commissioned a study, ToGetHerThere: Girls Insights on Leadership, about girls’ perceptions of leadership – some of the findings are surprising. To read the Executive Summary, go here. For more about the kickoff celebration, go here.
The study, commissioned by the Girls Scouts of the USA in partnership with Roper Research, is designed to better understand how girls today view the concept of leadership. The study analyzed data from girls ages 8-17 and aspires to raise awareness on the ways in which girls are engaging, or disengaging, in leadership roles.
Findings include:
59% of girls agree it is easier to be a follower than a leader, and a sizable minority (39%) also say a leader has to speak in front of a group and that they don’t want to.
More than one-third (35%) of girls say they wouldn’t feel comfortable trying to be a leader. A strong minority (38%) are not sure if they are cut out to be a leader.
A majority of girls say they have not been offered the opportunity to visit the workplaces of successful women in their community (60%) or serve on a committee with a successful woman (50%) in the last school year.
Overwhelmingly, girls expressed strong interest in having women leaders reach out to them so that girls can learn from real world successes of adult women.
The study seems to suggest that girls need to be invited to the ‘seats of power’ much more often than is currently the case, whether in business or government. So, if you are reading this post, and do hold such a position – and I know you are out there – please be mindful that inviting a girl into the world of business or government can make a huge difference in the life of that child.
And, Congratulations to Girl Scouts on their Centenary Anniversary.
The study, commissioned by the Girls Scouts of the USA in partnership with Roper Research, is designed to better understand how girls today view the concept of leadership. The study analyzed data from girls ages 8-17 and aspires to raise awareness on the ways in which girls are engaging, or disengaging, in leadership roles.
Findings include:
59% of girls agree it is easier to be a follower than a leader, and a sizable minority (39%) also say a leader has to speak in front of a group and that they don’t want to.
More than one-third (35%) of girls say they wouldn’t feel comfortable trying to be a leader. A strong minority (38%) are not sure if they are cut out to be a leader.
A majority of girls say they have not been offered the opportunity to visit the workplaces of successful women in their community (60%) or serve on a committee with a successful woman (50%) in the last school year.
Overwhelmingly, girls expressed strong interest in having women leaders reach out to them so that girls can learn from real world successes of adult women.
The study seems to suggest that girls need to be invited to the ‘seats of power’ much more often than is currently the case, whether in business or government. So, if you are reading this post, and do hold such a position – and I know you are out there – please be mindful that inviting a girl into the world of business or government can make a huge difference in the life of that child.
And, Congratulations to Girl Scouts on their Centenary Anniversary.
Thanks for posting. Cookie Season is in full swing and troops will begin to stand outside of retail establishments starting February 25th selling cookies to the masses. Please make an effort to support your local troops! To find a cookies nearest you, download this handy app!
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