In October 2020, the GSRI released the first in a 2-part study which examines young people’s thoughts and beliefs about gender, politics, and civic engagement, asking the following questions:
✓ What are young people’s beliefs about gender and political leadership?
✓ What do girls think about the gender gap in political representation, and what do they think we should do to address it?
✓ Where and how are girls engaging civically and politically?
✓ How do girls want to lead in this space, and what are their aspirations and career interests? What issues do they care about, and what impact do they want to make in the world?
In December 2016, the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) surveyed a nationally representative sample of girls to assess the role of Girl Scouts in helping girls attain the five GSLE outcomes (or “leadership outcomes”) above, as well as other specific ways girls benefit from participating in Girl Scouts.
The research provides compelling evidence that Girl Scouts stand out significantly from non–Girl Scouts, demonstrating more well-rounded lifestyles and a stronger propensity for success. Compared to non–Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts are more likely to:
- Exhibit strong leadership outcomes
- Earn “excellent” grades
- Expect to graduate college
- Aspire to STEM, business, and law careers
- Feel hopeful about their future
Click here to download the Executive Summary or here for the full report.