Positive Forces
Impacting Middle School Girls

While much of this guide reports various negative behaviors that girls are engaging in and obstacles that face them, there are a number of positive forces working to the benefit of girls.

First of all, the gender gap between performance of middle school boys and girls in math and science is closing, although more work needs to be done. Secondly, the drop in self-esteem experienced by girls has recently been reported as being nearly the same as that of boys. Girls are scoring higher on writing assessment exams than boys are, and 62% of teenage girls plan to go on to college after high school.

Also, building on the Women's Sports Foundation Report that young females involved in sports are less likely to engage in risky behaviors (drug and alcohol use, sexual activity, etc.), is the recent rise in popularity and celebrity of women's sports. Due in part to the success of the women's

United States National Soccer team, the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association), and the achievements by Serena and Venus Williams in women's professional tennis, involvement in both recreational and competitive sports by girls is on the increase.

Girl Scouting continues to provide numerous opportunities for girls in leadership roles, science and community service. New at Boys and Girls Clubs across the country is the SMART Girls program. This program, which is specifically designed for use with middle school girls, covers a broad range of topics and gives girls the chance to discuss and learn more about issues facing themselves and their peers.

Finally, the New Moon Magazine (http://www.newmoon.org/) offers girls a unique forum for exploring topics of interest to them in the groundbreaking format of a magazine and web site written for girls, by girls.

Beyond the Butterfly is co-produced by Wisconsin Public Television and NEWIST/CESA #7 (Northeastern Wisconsin In-School Telecommunications).