Research

Through the financial support of the Women's Initiative, United Way of Central Massachusetts, the Investing in Girls Alliance commissioned a local needs assessment. The task of this research was to gather information from parents, adolescent girls, and local agency service providers. The goal was simple: identify the challenges our girls face that impede them from leading successful lives.

Research Highlights

• 71% of middle-school girls surveyed identified the biggest problem for them as educational demands.
• 51% of girls identified violence and sex as the top two issues that adults should focus on addressing.
• Almost three quarters (73%) of the respondents identified peer pressure and sex as challenges facing girls.
• 74% of the girls said that sports and fitness programs-with options for "girls-only"-should be a priority if new programs are going to be created. 36% also indicated that additional career and life planning programs are needed.