Why Girls Only?

In a recent study, Girls Inc. National Research and Training Center, verified that girls who...

• Are involved with sports, or clubs and organizations
• Receive high levels of support from adults
• Believe that girls are no less competent than boys
• Can name three adults who could help with a problem

Are more likely to be girls who...

• Are satisfied with their bodies
• Want to go to college
• Have a high quality of life
• Overcome the effects of gender stereotypes

From The National Council for Research on Women:

• Girls are often left out of the highest expectations and opportunities for leadership in math, science, technology, academic and artistic achievement.
• Girls are smoking more, suffer depression twice as frequently as boys, and represent a disproportionate percent of rape victims and other forms of violence.
• Three out of every four child victims and survivors of violence are girls. One in every three to four girls are sexually victimized by the time they are 18 or seniors in high school.
• The leading causes of premature death among women - including cancer, heart disease and AIDS - are all associated with behaviors that often begin during adolescence.
• Girls and women account for nine out of ten cases of eating disorders, which have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders.
• The teen birth rate is declining steadily. However, the U.S. teen birth rate remains higher than that of comparable industrialized Western Nations.
• Among full-time, year-round workers, men still earn more money than women across all levels of educational attainment.

Why Westchester County?

Most Westchester girls do not participate in after-school enrichment programs. Those who do are rarely in girls-only programs designed with girls' developmental needs in mind, and facilitated by trained professionals.

There are 80,000 girls ages 6 - 18 in Westchester County . Despite the perception of Westchester as affluent and privileged, 20% of households have annual incomes under $25,000. Westchester has more than 1,300 teen pregnancies per year and a teen sexually transmitted infection rate that is 567% higher for girls than boys.

Girls Inc. offers innovative, field-tested relevant programs that encourage girls to:

• Build Their Potential
• Avoid At Risk Circumstances
• Confront And Overcome Challenges
• Experience A Sense of Accomplishment And Success

Girls Inc. opens girls' minds to their own potential and to the many opportunities that they may otherwise not be aware of.

The need is there!
Help bring Girls Inc. to Westchester girls.

Girls Bill of Rights

"Girls have the right to be themselves and to resist gender stereotypes."

"Girls have the right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm."

"Girls have the right to take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in success."

"Girls have the right to accept and appreciate their bodies."

"Girls have the right to have confidence in themselves and to be safe in the world."

"Girls have the right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence."