Although
girls in the United States have made substantial progress in the classroom and
elsewhere, persistent disparities and challenges exist that could keep many
girls from achieving their full potential. Black/African American and
Hispanic/Latina girls are far more likely than their white counterparts to face
an array of socioeconomic hurdles that range from growing up in poverty or a
low-income household to dropping out of school and struggling with obesity,
according to a report released today by the Girl Scout Research Institute.
The State of Girls: Unfinished Business charts the
often-vast disparities that cleave the girl experience along racial and ethnic
lines. For example, the report finds that poverty rates among black/African
American, Hispanic/Latina, and Native American girls ages 5 to 17 are more than
twice that of white and Asian American girls. In the United States today, 21
percent of all girls live in poverty, and the rates are higher for
black/African American girls (37 percent), Hispanic/Latina girls (33 percent),
and American Indian/Alaska Native girls (34 percent), as compared to white
girls (12 percent).
“These
findings should be a wakeup call for all of us,” said Anna Maria Chávez, chief
executive officer of Girl Scouts of the USA. “We can’t afford to have separate
experiences for girls based on race, ethnicity, and social class. For over one
hundred years, Girl Scouts has been there for all girls, and we are now more
committed than ever to lifting up any girl that is falling behind. There is a
new emerging majority in this country, and Girl Scouts is set to take the lead
in ensuring that all girls have equal opportunities.”
Indeed, The State of Girls documents the fact
that girls are now more likely than boys to graduate from high school and that
the teen birthrate has reached its lowest recorded levels. Yet when researchers
looked at the differences among girls in terms of race and ethnicity, it became
clear that white girls fare much better than black/African American and
Hispanic/Latina girls.
Many girls
have low reading and math proficiency, but when race is factored in,
disparities in education are overwhelming. Eight out of 10 black/African
American and Hispanic/Latina girls are considered “below proficient” in reading
by fourth grade, whereas 5 out of 10 white girls are considered “below
proficient” in reading by fourth grade.
Obesity
rates are high for girls. Nearly half of black/African American (44 percent)
and Hispanic/Latina (41 percent) girls ages 5 to 17 are overweight or obese, as
compared to 26 percent of white girls. Girls also struggle with emotional
health. Thirty-four percent of high school girls had self-reported symptoms of
depression during the past year.
“The key
to keep in mind, though, is that data is not destiny,” said Judy Schoenberg, a
lead researcher at the Girl Scout Research Institute. “As a society we can do
something about this. At Girl Scouts of the USA, we are doing something about this, and will continue to develop
programs that meet the needs of all today’s girls.”
In
addition to the disparities among racial and ethnic groups, the report also
documents the changing demographics among American girls. In 2000, 62 percent
of all girls ages 5 to 17 were white. By 2010, that proportion had decreased to
54 percent, and it is projected to continue to decrease to 47 percent by 2030.
Meanwhile, the Hispanic/Latina girl population has grown steadily. In 2000, 16
percent of the girl population ages 5 to 17 was Hispanic/Latina. In 2010, that
proportion had grown to 22 percent and is projected to reach 31 percent in
2030. The current white majority is expected to be less than half of all girls
(47 percent) by 2030.
“Girl
Scouts offers all girls the opportunity to obtain skills in an environment that
is supportive and encouraging," says Chávez. "Our programs in healthy
living, financial literacy, STEM, and leadership give girls skills they need to
succeed in life."
Written in
conjunction with the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, D.C., The State of Girls: Unfinished Business
is the first report of its kind to focus exclusively on girls, and it paints a
detailed picture of the social and economic lives that the 26 million American
girls ages 5 to 17 lead today. The report draws its findings from analyses of
large national data sets, including the U.S. Census.