Girls today are faced with an onslaught of influences daily, most of them negative. Everything from body image in advertisements and television to how they are expected to act in social media and with their friends, shapes how a girl views herself. There are specific standards they are supposed to reach which can highly affect their self-esteem. A low self-esteem negatively affects how a girl lives her life. In fact, a national survey of girls’ use of social media released by the Girl Scouts of the USA (Who’s That Girl: Self Image in the 21st Century, 2010) finds that girls with low-esteem are more likely to be susceptible to negative experiences on social networking sites than are girls with high self-esteem.
As parents and mentors, we want to help our daughters avoid cyber bullying and anything that diminishes their self-worth. We want them to build the leadership skills they need to be successful in the real world.
There is a way to enhance their school year. The Girl Scouts’ flourishing new leadership program, Journeys, is at the core of the nearly 100 year old organization’s transformation. Journeys, is a program in which girls at each grade level explore a theme through many experiences and from many perspectives. In this way, girls build leadership skills and confidence as they gain new skills and knowledge, and widen their view of the world.
The Girl Scouts of the USA has transformed throughout the years to meet the needs of girls. Now, more than ever, there is a great need to work on self-worth and confidence. The Girl Scouts brings together a community of women of all ages to grow and learn together in an accepting and nurturing environment. With adult volunteers leading the groups, girls gain confidence, self-worth, and learn how to reach their full potential all while having fun. Learning these skills at a young age and in a positive setting will greatly affect the type of women these girls become.
For more information,visit GirlScouts.org