New Study: 2008 Election's Impact on Girls

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"Obama's election means a lot for women -- and, of course, girls. No big surprise there.

But according to a new study conducted by the Girl Scout Research Institute, the presidential race was influencing girls across the country even before Obama won. Their survey of over 3,000 boys and girls (including non-Girl Scouts) found that the election increased girls' interest in leadership, but also heightened "their appreciation for the difficulties that women face in our society."

According to the study, 43 percent of girls today strongly believe that "girls have to work harder than boys in order to gain positions of leadership," a statement that just 25 percent of girls agreed with just a year ago. And the percentage of girls who believe that "today both men and women have an equal chance of getting a leadership position" declined from 35 percent to 24 percent between 2007 and 2008. Ouch.

Also: Ritu Sharma of Women Thrive Worldwide on what having Sasha and Malia in the White House means for girls outside the Beltway."

http://community.feministing.com/2009/01/new-study-2008-elections-impac.html

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