GIRLS HIT THE POLITICAL SCENE: NOT ONLY TO BE SEEN BUT HEARD

GIRLS HIT THE POLITICAL SCENE: NOT ONLY TO BE SEEN BUT HEARD
Five girls visit Capitol Hill to bring Girls Inc. Girls' Bill of Rights to the Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2001

WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 2001 - What would the nation's girls do during their first 100 days in the White House? Among their top priorities: closing the gender gap, improving schools, and making certain every person has access to health care.

Closing the centuries old gender gap seems ambitious, but setting the stage for equal opportunities is high on girls' list of concerns, according to a recent national online survey conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. for Girls Incorporated. Asked about how they would change the nation's political agenda, 43 percent of girls and 22 percent of boys said that if they were President they would make it a priority to make sure girls and boys have the same chances to do well.

In light of the findings, five young women from across the country will take the first steps to inform policy makers of the issues facing the nation's 36 million girls. They will travel to Capitol Hill on May 15th, to introduce women senators to the Girls Incorporated Girls' Bill of Rights, six principles of empowerment for every girl. In Washington, D.C. the girls will also help unveil a plan for the Girls Inc., Center for Girls' Rights, a public education center dedicated to creating social change on issues of gender equity.

The young women are expected to meet with Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Washington Senator Patty Murray, and Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

"When it comes to politics, girls are still expected to be seen and not heard," said Joyce Roch', President and CEO of Girls Incorporated. "Girls, and children in general, are the nation's silent constituency, but when asked, they are well aware of the issues that are important and have an effect on them."

According to the poll, 61 percent of girls and 56 percent of boys see improving the country's schools as a top priority. Fifty-one percent of girls and 45 percent of boys reported that making sure everyone could go to the doctor if they needed to would be among their top priorities. But boys and girls were at odds about their third priority for the nation; girls said closing the gender gap (43 percent) while boys (31 percent) said ensuring that everyone who wants to can get a good job.

Girls and boys said one of the things they worry about most is doing well in school (65 percent of girls and 64 percent of boys). A majority of those surveyed also said having enough money for college (42 percent of girls and 31 percent of boys) and school and neighborhood safety (32 percent of girls and 26 percent of boys) is a serious concern.

The study also revealed that a majority of girls (53 percent) and boys (56 percent) believe religious leaders care most about children's issues. Senators fell near the bottom of the list, with 11 percent of girls and 15 percent of boys saying Senators care the most about their concerns. Asked about who has the power to change policy, a majority of girls (70 percent) and boys (74 percent) said the U.S. President. Children expressed slightly more confidence in celebrities and sports stars to have the power to bring about change than in U.S. Senators (35 percent v. 32 percent).

The event and survey are part of Girls Inc. Girls' Rights Week, a nationwide observance aimed at raising awareness of girls' rights. During the week of May 13 -19, girls, ages 6 to 18, from Girls Inc. centers all over the country are joining the effort by asking their local officials to pass a girls' rights resolution. Girls nationwide will also be able to join an online (www.girlsinc.org) e-card writing campaign aimed at elected officials - to tell them why girls need a Bill of Rights.

Read Poll Results of children's views on politics.

Learn more about the Girls Inc. Scholars traveling to Washington, D.C.

Girls Incorporated is a national nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM. With local roots dating to 1864 and national status since 1945, Girls Inc. has responded to the changing needs of girls and their communities through programs and advocacy that empower girls to reach their full potential and understand, value, and assert their rights.

Methodology
Harris Interactive surveyed 1055 children 8 - 18 years old drawn from the Harris Interactive online panel of more than 7 million respondents. The survey was conducted via a web-based questionnaire and the data were weighted to be representative of the US population of children. Interviews were conducted as part of the April, 2001 Harris Interactive YouthQuerySM.