The State of Girls: Unfinished Business Forum in Norfolk

Fifty-two percent of girls say that being a leader is not that important to them. What is even more alarming is the fact that nearly one in ten girls (9 percent) say that they do not want to be a leader at all. This data, along with other facts regarding girls’ well-being, was compiled by the Girl Scout Research Institute and served as the topic of discussion at the forum held by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the Virginia Beach Branch of the American Association of University Women on September 30 at WHRO Studios in Norfolk.

Barbara Hamm-Lee, executive producer and host of “Another View” at WHRO studios, served as the forum’s moderator and led engaging discussion among the panel of local experts. Panelists included Rebecca Jaramillo, senior educator at the National Institute of Aerospace, Gretchen Edwards-Bodmer, leadership development coordinator for the Tidewater Community College Women’s Center, Dr. Saundra Winstead, family medicine doctor with the Hampton Roads Community Health Center, and Aditi Dutt, parent educator at Bon Secours Health System.

Aditi Dutt, Rebecca Jaramillo, Barbara Hamm Lee,
Dr. Saundra Winstead, Gretchen Edwards-Bodmer

Each panelist had the opportunity to weigh in on the well-being of girls as it relates to their field of expertise. Throughout the evening, they shared their unique perspectives, but agreed on the importance of girls having role models and mentors to help them grow into the women they want to be.

Jaramillo, who has been an educator for over 30 years, shared her thoughts about why women are not represented equally in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.

“Parents and teachers need to encourage natural curiosity in their girls,” Jaramillo said. “Girls today believe the things they want to do are impossible, and they need a support system to explore and discover with them along the way.”

Gretchen Bodmer-Edwards, leadership development coordinator for the Tidewater Community College Women’s Center, echoed the importance of fostering girls’ interests in order to encourage their leadership skills. She talked about girls and women valuing collaborative leadership, as opposed to the traditional top-down leadership style oftentimes exercised in workplaces today. She suggested that girls should look at leadership opportunities as volunteers or in the home and that will give them the confidence to pursue leadership roles at school and work.

Dr. Saundra Winstead, a family medicine doctor with the Hampton Roads Community Health Center, and Aditi Dutt, parent educator for Bon Secours Health System, weighed in on the physical and emotional well-being of girls. Dr. Winstead emphasized the importance of educating girls, as well as their parents, about leading healthy lifestyles because children often mimic the healthy and unhealthy habits of their parents and role models. Dutt discussed the issue of self-esteem and shared tips for parents to help build confidence in their daughters. She ended the forum with an important reminder for parents.

“Praise girls for being and for doing,” Dutt said. “It means so much more when they know you love and appreciate who they are, not just what they do.”

A report similar to The State of Girls: Unfinished Business has never been conducted, making it a much-needed resource in the field for educators and advocates. For more information, visit www.gsccc.org.