Threats to Girlhood
Threats to Girlhood
Girls that are mathematically inclined are less interested in math if their fathers believe that girls aren’t wired for math. 1 43% of girls think they are too shy to succeed in a leadership position.2 Girls who smoke tend to have a positive image of smokers, which can come from “advertising, celebrities, or other role models. This positive image may overcome any concerns about the health risks.”3
State of Being
Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.4 Over 1/3 of women between the ages of 18 and 25 would “rather be mean or stupid than be fat.”5 The percentage of young girls “participating in groupon-group fights increased from 13.5 percent in 2002 to 16.8 percent in 2003.”6
1 Jacobs, Janis E., et al. “‘I can, but I don’t want to’: Impact of Parents, Interests, and Activities on Gender Differences in Math”. In: Gender Differences in Mathematics: An Integrative Psychological Approach. Ed. Ann M. Gallagher. Cambridge: Cambride U. P., 2005. 2 Girl Scout Research Institute. “Change It Up: What Girls Say About Redefining Leadership.” 2008, p.19. 3 National Research Center for Women and Families. “Smoking and Girls: A Deadly Mix.” http://www.center4research.org/smoking.html 4 Silverman, Jay G.; Raj, Anita; Mucci, Lorelei A.; and Jeanne E. Hathaway. “Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality.” Journal of the American Medical Association, August 1, 2001, Vol 286, No. 5, p. 572-579. 5 Martin, Courtney. “Perfect girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body.” New York: The Free Press, 2007. In: End Fat Talk. “Stats.” http:// www.endfattalk.org/stats.html 6 SAMHSA National Mental Health Information Center. “The NSDUH Report: Female Youths and Delinquent Behaviors.” November 5, 2004. http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k4/ girldelinquents/girldelinquents.htm 1
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