Confronted with a lack of national data on girls and leadership, the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) has launched a body of work to explore how girls understand leadership and what girls say it means to be a leader. This research review supports Girl Scouting's goal of inspiring girls to develop leadership skills and aspire to leadership.
Exploring Girls' Leadership is the latest GSRI research review that analyzes the current literature from youth development and leadership fields and contrasts continued misperceptions with youths' realities and community approaches to leadership in the field.
In addition, the review gives voice to girls by including findings from an online survey and focus groups of girls around the country.
“Our initial research shows that for girls leadership is about the qualities one has, rather than about a specific role or function, and is often viewed as a clear means toward an end - to make a difference in the world,” says Judy Schoenberg, director of Research & Outreach for the Girl Scout Research Institute.
What leadership means to girls:
Girls view leadership as clear means toward an end, to make a difference in the world.
Many girls do not resonate with the traditional hierarchical leadership model. Girls view important leadership qualities as being a good listener, building consensus and ensuring that others are included, engaged and involved.
One example of girls learning leadership is earning the various age level awards: Bronze, Silver and Gold. All require completing a set of prescribed criteria, culminating in a project benefiting the community. As the girls grow, each award requires more in-depth exploration and time commitment.
Four Girl Scouts in the Port Byron school district recently earned the Silver Award. Kayla Tanner, Kira Hoffman, Sheryl Reney and Tiffany Westmiller were honored at a special ceremony Nov. 1, at the First United Methodist Church in Port Byron.
The Girl Scout Silver Award may be earned by Girl Scouts, ages 11-14, as they learn skills for living in the real world. The requirements for the award take about two years to complete and cover five major activities. Each recipient must have spent at least 15 hours in a leadership capacity - she may have served as a group officer, a program assistant in a younger Girl Scout group or developed leadership skills through work on a special interest project.
These girls from Girl Scout Troop 439 worked together to map the Pine Hill Cemetery in the Town of Throop. They cleaned up around the stones, learned the dos and don'ts of mapping a cemetery.
Girl Scout Cookies still available:
Several Girl Scout troops have been working on their leadership and business skills by planning cookie booths throughout the area. With boxes in hand, girls can directly sell cookies to customers. For information on where to find scouts selling cookies, call 539-5085
Judith E. Gallagher is communications director for the Girl Scouts Seven Lakes Council, Inc. She can be reached at 539-5085 ext. 721. To learn more, visit www.girlscoutssevenlakes.org
In addition, the review gives voice to girls by including findings from an online survey and focus groups of girls around the country.
“Our initial research shows that for girls leadership is about the qualities one has, rather than about a specific role or function, and is often viewed as a clear means toward an end - to make a difference in the world,” says Judy Schoenberg, director of Research & Outreach for the Girl Scout Research Institute.
What leadership means to girls:
Girls view leadership as clear means toward an end, to make a difference in the world.
Many girls do not resonate with the traditional hierarchical leadership model. Girls view important leadership qualities as being a good listener, building consensus and ensuring that others are included, engaged and involved.
One example of girls learning leadership is earning the various age level awards: Bronze, Silver and Gold. All require completing a set of prescribed criteria, culminating in a project benefiting the community. As the girls grow, each award requires more in-depth exploration and time commitment.
Four Girl Scouts in the Port Byron school district recently earned the Silver Award. Kayla Tanner, Kira Hoffman, Sheryl Reney and Tiffany Westmiller were honored at a special ceremony Nov. 1, at the First United Methodist Church in Port Byron.
The Girl Scout Silver Award may be earned by Girl Scouts, ages 11-14, as they learn skills for living in the real world. The requirements for the award take about two years to complete and cover five major activities. Each recipient must have spent at least 15 hours in a leadership capacity - she may have served as a group officer, a program assistant in a younger Girl Scout group or developed leadership skills through work on a special interest project.
These girls from Girl Scout Troop 439 worked together to map the Pine Hill Cemetery in the Town of Throop. They cleaned up around the stones, learned the dos and don'ts of mapping a cemetery.
Girl Scout Cookies still available:
Several Girl Scout troops have been working on their leadership and business skills by planning cookie booths throughout the area. With boxes in hand, girls can directly sell cookies to customers. For information on where to find scouts selling cookies, call 539-5085
Judith E. Gallagher is communications director for the Girl Scouts Seven Lakes Council, Inc. She can be reached at 539-5085 ext. 721. To learn more, visit www.girlscoutssevenlakes.org
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