What a girl wants - Short Stuff - Speak for Yourself: What Girls Say about What Girls Need survey - Brief Article

Girls' Life, April-May, 2003

What a girl wants. What a girl needs. Whatever makes me happy and sets your free." Christina Aguilera makes it clear exactly what she needs! Wouldn't it be cool if you got to tell the world what you need? Well, over 200 Illinois girls, 12 to 18, did it for you in a two-year study conducted for girls by girls, titled Speak for Yourself: What Girls Say about What Girls Need. Sixty-five girl researchers met regularly for nearly a year to discuss issues, interview other girls and record their observations. What they found? That girls need respect, to feel safe, to be heard, to be challenged, to have trusting relationships. Says one girl researcher, "I learned that I can take myself and other girls seriously...that we have a lot of talents that could help our community." The complete report is available at www.girlsbestfried.org/programs/speakforyourself.html.>