FOREWORD

The National Council for Research on Women (NCRW) is proud to issue The Girls Report: What We Know and Need to Know About Growing Up Female, its second report on adolescent girls in this decade. Much has changed in what we know about adolescent girls, how they are viewed, and how they view themselves since 1991, when the first report, Risk, Resiliency, and Resistance: Current Research on Adolescent Girls, was released. Today, researchers and activists increasingly perceive girls as smart, bold, and determined, and call on them to help shape programs and research that address their special concerns and needs. Although the findings in this report are anchored in the proliferating research on, and programs for, girls in the United States, the expanding attention to this age group--and the perception of girls as partners with important perspectives to share--has become a global phenomenon, as demonstrated by the active participation of girls at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995.

The Girls Report provides an important baseline of knowledge on adolescence as we approach the new millennium. Lynn Phillips, its author, has done an admirable job of synthesizing the present state of research on this pivotal phase in girls' lives. In contrast to most research reports, which tend to focus on single issues, The Girls Report employs a holistic perspective, exploring adolescent girls' health, sexuality, education, experiences with violence, and economic realities and viewing them across the divides of race, ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation. In so doing, it also assesses how what we know can guide future research and programs. While the report identifies programs and achievements that engender a sense of vitality and empowerment, it also delineates the underbelly of girls' experiences, the many areas in which they remain victimized, harassed, and diminished, and the very real risks that still constrain their healthy development. Throughout, the voices of girls themselves provide a counterpoint to the analyses of researchers. These statements, drawn from interviews and focus groups, express girls' struggles and aspirations, and their views of how their situations could be improved.

The Girls Report reflects both NCRW's mission and the wide range of interests, concerns, and research capacities of its membership. The strength of NCRW--a collaborative of 77 research centers focused on women and girls--lies in its ability to draw on the rich resources and expertise of its members to synthesize cutting-edge research, policies, and practices and make this information accessible to diverse audiences. Thus, member centers' programs and research are cited throughout the report, as well as in the "Resource Guide" at the end. While many centers made invaluable contributions, NCRW extends special appreciation to Girls Incorporated for playing a pivotal role in the preparation of the report, and to the Wellesley Centers for Research on Women and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for providing critical information and insights at key junctures.

The Girls Report also inaugurates NCRW's new Research for Action program. Its goal is to stimulate dialogue and collaboration among the worlds of research, public policy, and activism, and to shape the lens through which policymakers, the media, educators and other professionals, advocates, and the public view women and girls. In keeping with these objectives, each chapter in the report identifies current issues and debates on the topics covered and concludes with recommendations on what is needed to enhance the lives of adolescent girls and help them reach their potential. The report ends with "Looking Ahead: Developing a New Research Agenda," which is designed to guide future studies of girls' needs, experiences, and development. To enhance the report's impact on policies and programs, NCRW, in partnership with our member centers, will conduct roundtables and workshops in a number of locations across the country. These events will provide an opportunity for researchers, public officials, funders, and others with a vital interest in the lives of girls to discuss the report's findings and compare them with local conditions and experiences.

NCRW expresses its gratitude to the funders of The Girls Report: the William T. Grant Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, the Remmer Family Foundation, the Valentine Foundation, and Girl's Best Friend Foundation. Sharing our view of the importance of synthesizing past research and programs so as to shape future agendas, our funders generously underwrote the research that went into this report, as well as its preparation and dissemination. Some also read and commented on various drafts. We also extend great appreciation to the Ford Foundation for general support during the preparation of this report. Considering the rich input to this project from so many sources, we are convinced that The Girls Report will inform, enlighten, and inspire all those interested in making the world a better place for girls and women.

--Linda Basch
Executive Director
National Council for Research on Women