PR Research

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.

Girl Scout Research Institute

The Girl Scout Research Institute is a center for research and public policy information on the healthy development of girls as they mature toward adulthood. Formed in 2000, is a vital extension of Girl Scouts of the USA's commitment to addressing the complex and ever-changing needs of girls.

Comprised of a dedicated staff and advisors who are experts in child development, academia, government, business, and the not-for-profit sector, the institute conducts groundbreaking studies, releases critical facts and findings, and provides resources essential for the advancement of the well-being and safety of girls living in today's world.

The goals of the Girl Scout Research Institute are to originate new projects and initiatives that bolster knowledge about girls, as well as to synthesize the research that exists on the healthy development of girls.

These efforts not only support the development of the Girl Scout program but also supply accurate information to educational, not-for-profit, and public policy organizations, parents seeking the best ways to help their daughters, and girls themselves.