1. “What Girls Say” About Self-Esteem, Body Image, and Holistic Health October 17, 2007 Judy Schoenberg, Ed.M., Director, Research & Outreach Kimberlee Salmond, M.P.P., Senior Researcher, Research & Outreach Girl Scout Research Institute

2. Goal for the Day Help you better understand girls’ experiences in: Self Esteem Body Image Holistic Health as we develop solutions to address challenges and advance the well-being of girls

3. External Influences “Girl-Power” media market culture Sexualization of Girls Ideal-body internalization Packaging Girlhood, Lamb & Brown; Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls, APA Task Force; The Prevention Researcher

4. Age Compression  “Teens Before their Time” Pressure to be everything to everyone Cognitive and physical development vs. emotional development Girls Speak Out and Teens Before their Time, GSRI

5. Holistic Health Being healthy is emotional and physical well- being. More than just eating right and exercising About feeling good about oneself, being supported and appearing “normal.” The New Normal?, GSRI

7. Self-esteem, body image, and stress are core components of emotional health. Girls are more concerned than boys about everything, especially appearance. Stress increases with age, but nearly half of 3 rd – 5 th grade girls are often stressed. 1 in 4 girls has some level of dissatisfaction with her weight. Role of age and race in body image and attitudes. The New Normal? GSRI

9. What worries girls the most? Being teased or made fun of (32%) Being gossiped about (24%) Being called names (18%). 66% of youth have been teased or gossiped about in a mean way at least once in the past month and 57% have teased or gossiped about someone else. Feeling Safe, GSRI; Youth and Violence, Families and Work Institute

10. Girls who do not feel emotionally safe are more likely to: –Have trouble paying attention in school –Have trouble making decisions –Often feel sad and unhappy –Often feel there is no one to talk to Feeling Safe, GSRI

11. Body Image & Eating Disorders Almost half (46%) of girls report significant distress about their body size and shape. Body dissatisfaction increases risk for disordered eating, depressed mood, and low self-esteem. Up to 10% of girls and young women might suffer from disordered eating. The Prevention Researcher

12. Eating Disorders & Obesity Obesity is now the most chronic health problem among American children. The strongest correlation for overweight girls is between weight and income. Research suggests that eating disorders tend to co-occur with being overweight. There are benefits of collaborative efforts to curb all eating related disturbances. The New Normal? GSRI; The Prevention Researcher

14. “Active Identities” The more physically active girls are, the greater their self- esteem and the more satisfied they are with their weight, regardless of how much they weigh. 83% of very active girls say that physical activity makes them feel good about themselves. The New Normal? GSRI

15. The Mother-Daughter Connection A mother’s weight, body image, and health habits are strong predictors of whether her daughter: Is overweight Is satisfied with her body Is physically active Looks to her mother for advice on healthy living The New Normal? GSRI

17. Girl Scouts in Action 3 million girls + 1 million adult volunteers nationwide 95 year history offering girls innovative programs in self- esteem, physical activity, nutrition and holistic health More than 60 Healthy Living Earned Awards & Participation Patches GSRI Resources

18. Recommendations for Working with Girls Listen to girls, take them seriously, and reward their accomplishments. Respect girls’ experiences. Be honest, kind, and supportive. Provide fun, safe environments.

19. Recommendations for Policy Makers Policy solutions should embrace a holistic definition of health. Community-based organizations that serve youth should be seen as vital partners.

20. Looking Forward: Girls as leaders today and tomorrow 69% of girls currently think of themselves as leaders. Girls are leaders in three arenas: –At school (66%) –At home (44%) –In after-school groups or activities (29%) However, an important disconnect occurs as girls envision being leaders later in life. Only about 1/3 of girls (36%) are interested in being leaders when they are older. Exploring Girls’ Leadership, GSRI

21. The New Girl Scout Leadership Development Experience Discover, Connect, and Take Action Exploring Girls’ Leadership Research Review, October 2007 Original study on girls and leadership, coming Spring 2008

22. The Girl Scout Research Institute For more information contact the GSRI: gsresearch@girlscouts.org Visit the GSRI web page: http://www.girlscouts.org/Research