We must ensure that every girl in Illinois is given the opportunities necessary to nurture her self-esteem and receive a quality education. Researchers, policymakers, and people who work directly with girls must be sensitive to the complex interactions of gender with other aspects of their identities, and the communities in which they live. Participation in sports is linked with decreased incidence of depression, pregnancy, and smoking initiation among teenage girls.
Girls are twice as likely to experience depression during adolescence.
More females than males receive bachelors and masters degrees, more males than females receive doctoral degrees. Higher education degrees tend to follow traditional gender patterns with more females seeking degrees in health and education and males in computer science and engineering. As a newly created Working Group of the Commission, the Girl Opportunities Working Group's first task was to organize and prioritize their goals. They have recruited a diverse group of accomplished, educated women to help identify how we may best advocate for the interests of girls in the state of Illinois. They will establish liaisons and enlist the support of individuals and organizations that already work with girls throughout Illinois.