Just as planes and ships disappear mysteriously into the Bermuda Triangle, so do the selves of girls go down in droves. They crash and burn in a social and developmental Bermuda Triangle. In early adolescence, studies show that girls' IQ scores drop and their math and science scores plummet. They lose their resiliency and optimism and become less curious and inclined to take risks. They report great unhappiness with their own bodies.
Young women are innocent bystanders in a time of immense cultural transition.
Caught between traditional society's views of what women ought to be, and the realities of their fast-approaching futures, they urgently need guidance to find the paths that will lead them out of confusion and into promising futures. As Advancing Women who know too well the career and personal challenges we have faced in this Age, we can and should contribute to the effort to guide today's young women. The following links provide information on society's impact on the career success of tomorrow's working women. Around the country, organizations, educators, and parents have begun initiatives to improve career exploration and planning opportunities for girls. While many of these programs are grass-roots efforts, they show promise as models that can really make a difference.