The 'Election Effect' - Girl Scout Study Shows Impact of Election On Girls

The Girl Scout Research Institute Examines How Perceptions of Gender, Civic
Participation and Leadership Shifted After Historic Election Season

NEW YORK, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study launched by the Girl Scout
Research Institute (GSRI) titled "The New Leadership Landscape: What Girls Say
about Election 2008" finds that the presidential election, and the intense
campaign season that preceded it, generated an unprecedented level of interest
and engagement in civic participation and community service among young people
ages 13 - 17. The survey also reveals that girls in particular have not only
gained an increased awareness of the barriers that face women, but also an
improved sense of their own abilities and potential to overcome those
obstacles.

The GSRI, building upon its 2007, comprehensive study of girls' leadership
conceptions and aspirations, "Change It Up! What Girls Say About Redefining
Leadership," spearheaded this post-election survey to determine the impact
that this historic election had on girls' leadership goals. The survey
consisted of online interviews conducted with a sample of 3,284 respondents
between the ages of 13 and 17. The data are weighted to produce a final
sample representative of the general population of young people in the United
States.

"In order to ensure that we continue to provide the best leadership experience
for girls and young women, we think it's important to take a close look at
those issues and events that inspire girls to want to become leaders in their
own communities," said Laurel Richie, Senior Vice President and Chief
Marketing Officer, Girl Scouts of the USA. "This historic presidential
election, which for the first time featured two female candidates and an
African-American, is certainly such an event."

The survey consisted of 3,284 respondents between the ages of 13 and 17. In
the effort to capture diverse reactions the sample design included boys and
girls; Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts, as well African-American, Hispanic and
Asian youth.

Survey Highlights
Leadership and Girls
-- The majority of girls (59 percent) say the election has increased
their
confidence in being able to achieve their goals in the future.
-- Many girls (55 percent) say the election has increased their comfort
level in speaking up and expressing their opinions on issues that
matter
to them.
-- Many girls (51 percent) say the election has boosted their confidence
in
their ability to change things in the country.
-- Girl Scouts are more likely than other girls to think they have a high
chance of becoming President (55 percent of Girl Scouts versus 35
percent of non-Girl Scouts).

Race and Gender

-- When questioned about the role of gender, both boys and girls have
substantially increased their appreciation for the difficulties that
women face in our society. 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.
-- The percentage of girls who believe that "in our society, it is
more difficult to become a leader for a woman than a man," has
increased from 23 percent in 2007 to 37 percent in 2008.
-- The percentage of girls who believe that "today both men and women
have an equal chance of getting a leadership position" has declined
from 35 percent to 24 percent between 2007 and 2008.
-- Strikingly, despite becoming more aware of obstacles women face, more
than four in 10 girls (41 percent) say that the election has had a
positive impact on their desire to be a leader.
-- While one in three young people believe that Obama was held to a
higher
standard because of his race, 48 percent believe that ultimately race
helped him in the elections.

Engagement in the Election
-- The most significant impact the election has had is on youth's
desire to engage in the political process: the overwhelming majority
(71
percent) intend to vote when they reach eligible age. Additionally,
about one in two (49 percent) report an increased interest in
politics;
and 44 percent gained an interest in social and political activism.
The
election has had a particularly strong impact on girls and non-whites
(especially African-Americans) in terms of increased interest in
political activism.
-- President-elect Obama would have won the 13-17-year-old vote with a
wider margin than he did the national election: 60 percent of the
survey
respondents said they would have voted for President-elect Obama while
just 26 percent said they would have voted for Senator John McCain
(compared to the 53 percent/ 46 percent split in the national
election.
Two-thirds of respondents also believe President Obama will bring
positive change to the country.

"The results of the post-election survey are revealing," remarked Judy
Schoenberg, Director of Research & Outreach for GSRI. "It's clear that this
election season has encouraged girls to re-examine their ideas about
leadership, civic participation and their own ability to influence the world
around them as future leaders. While girls are aware that women face
challenges, they have also gained confidence and were energized by the 2008
election."

About the Girl Scout Research Institute
Formed in 2000, the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) is a center for
research and public policy information on the healthy development of girls.
Through conducting groundbreaking research, the main goal of the GSRI is to
elevate the voices of girls on key issues that affect their lives -- such as
their emotional and physical health and safety. The GSRI originates national
projects and initiatives, synthesizes existing research and conducts outcomes
evaluation to support the development of the Girl Scout program and to provide
information to educational institutions, not-for-profits, government agencies,
public policy organizations and to parents seeing ways to support their
daughters and to girls themselves. The GSRI includes staff and advisors who
have expertise in child development and also includes advisors from academia,
industry, government and not-for-profit organizations.

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership
development organization for girls with 3.6 million girl and adult members
worldwide. Girl Scouting is the leading authority on girls' healthy
development, and builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make
the world a better place. The organization strives to serve girls from every
corner of the United States and its territories. Girls Scouts of the USA also
serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international
schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join,
volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U
(800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.

GIRLS INSPIRED BY THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

According to a new survey of 3,284 youth (2,309 girls, 975 boys) ages 13-17:

-- Most girls (59%) say the election has increased their confidence in
being able to achieve their goals in the future.

-- Most girls (55%) say the election has increased their comfort level in
speaking up and expressing their opinions on issues that matter to
them.

-- Most girls (51%) say the election has boosted their confidence in
their
ability to change things in the country.

-- Half of girls (50%) report increased interest in politics as a result
of
the election.

-- More than four in 10 girls (46%) think more highly of women's
ability to lead than they did before the election.

-- More than four in 10 girls (46%) report increased interest in social
and
political activism as a result of the election.

-- More than four in 10 girls (44%) report increased interest in
community
service or volunteer activity as a result of the election.

-- More than four in 10 girls (41%) say that the election has had a
positive impact on their desire to be a leader.

-- Nearly two in three girls (65%) expect President-elect Obama to bring
positive change to the country.

-- Girl Scouts are more likely than other girls to think they have a high
chance of becoming President (55% of Girl Scouts versus 35% of
non-Girl
Scouts).

The survey was commissioned by the Girl Scout Research Institute and conducted
from Nov. 11 - Dec. 2, 2008 by the market research firm Fluent. The survey
consisted of online interviews with 3,284 young people between the ages of 13
and 17, and steps were taken to ensure that those surveyed were representative
of the general population of young people in the United States.

SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA

Michelle Tompkins of Girl Scouts of the USA, +1-212-852-5074,
mtompkins@girlscouts.org; or Alicia Gay of CRT/tanaka, +1-212-229-0500,
agay@crt-tanaka.com