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Girls Inc.: Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.

Girls are very pressured today to get good grades, look good, have a lot of friends, do a majority of the chores, and still have time for family.  

9th Grade Girl 

The Supergirl Dilemma: Girls Grapple with the Mounting Pressure of Expectations

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The Pressure to be Perfect, Accomplished, Thin, and Accommodating
Building on the Girls Inc. Taking the Lead study published in 2000, The Supergirl Dilemma is a nationwide survey, commissioned by Girls Inc. and conducted by Harris Interactive, that provides important insights into girls' lives today. Girls spoke out about the mounting expectations they face from family, peers, and educators as they struggle to decode confusing messages from the media and reject traditional gender stereotypes.

Girls Inc. believes that girls can do anything, but our new study indicates that girls feel pressure to do everything and please everyone.

 

Be an Advocate for Girls!
Our research shows that adults also worry for girls: Many women surveyed have experienced the pressure to be perfect in their own lives. They are deeply concerned that girls are struggling with these issues. Support systems bolster a girl's ability to believe she can achieve her dreams and endure stress, but many girls who participated in the study say they do not know three adults to whom to turn if they have a problem.

Here's what you can do to support girls today:

 

The Internalization of Cultural Expectations

There's an insane amount of media and peer pressure on girls to be thin, to be beautiful, to be air-headed and only care about going shopping, to always be wearing the latest trends...most girls won't have the courage to go against the media and do what they love, be it considered 'feminine' or not."

— 12th Grade Girl

 

Find out what Girls Inc. is doing to help girls confront stereotypes:

Get the latest on The Supergirl Dilemma:

Download a Girls Inc. presentation of the report
Girls Inc. presented the research findings to advocates for girls at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. headquarters.

Arianna Huffington:
On Becoming Fearless and challenging unrealistic expectations.

Author Courtney E. Martin
discusses the perfection epidemic in an interview with Girls Inc.

The Roanoke Times,
"Girls report growing pressure"

The Nation,
"The Supergirl Syndrome"

Teenwire.com,
"Are You a Supergirl?"

The New York Times,
"What's Wrong With Cinderella?"

The Full Circle Project ,
Supergirls. Superwomen. Full Circle.

Author Hannah Seligson;
On the pressure to be perfect in the workplace.

Support Girls Inc.

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