GIRLS' BILL OF RIGHTS

At Girls Incorporated we believe that girls have the right to live fully, openly, and safely in this world–just like everyone else. But a lot of girls find that other people's ideas about girls and women make it hard for them to reach for their dreams and achieve their goals. Girls Inc. is working hard to change that situation. By inspiring girls to stand up for their rights, we can educate everyone–girls and boys, women and men–about the unlimited talents, desires, and potential of girls. Our goal is to help every girl understand, value, and stand up for her rights. The Girls' Bill of Rights helps educate and encourage girls to know their rights and use them. The Girls Incorporated Girls Bill of Rights and Advocacy Statements express our core values and convictions and form the foundation for our research-based National Identity Programs.

Girls have the right to be themselves and to resist gender stereotypes.

Girls Inc. sounds a consistent theme: every girl is to be honored and valued for who she is and welcomes all girls into our centers to expand their minds, strengthen their bodies, and fortify their spirits. Girls Incorporated® Media Literacy™(pdf) teaches girls to analyze what they see and hear on television and throughout the media. Girls learn to advocate for images they would like to see while gaining exposure to a range of careers in media and entertainment.

Girls have the right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm.

Girls Inc. motivates girls to speak up for themselves in peer groups, in school, at home, and in the community. We offer safe, welcoming places in which girls are listened to by their peers and their mentors. Girls find their voices, build their communication skills, and learn to speak and advocate for themselves. Girls Inc. motivates girls to speak up for themselves among friends, in school, at home and in the community. Girls Incorporated® Leadership and Community Action™(pdf) partners girls and women in community action projects chosen by the girls, building leadership skills and creating lasting change.

Girls have the right to accept and appreciate their bodies.

Girls Inc. encourages girls to embrace their bodies and be proud of their individual shapes, sizes, colors, abilities, and strengths. Girls learn how to be themselves, to thrive in their bodies, and to make healthy choices for their future. Girls Incorporated® Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy™(pdf) helps girls identify ways and reasons to avoid early pregnancy. Four age-appropriate components foster girls’ communication skills, provide basic health education, and encourage girls to plan for the future. Girls Incorporated® Friendly PEERsuasion™(pdf) puts teenage girls in charge of helping younger girls avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by teaching healthy ways to confront peer pressure and manage stress.

Girls have the right to take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in success.

Girls are entitled to set their own expectations for themselves, and to take risks that expand their world and challenge them intellectually, emotionally, and physically. We place no assumptions or limitations on girls or their abilities, allowing them to discover their own strengths, talents, and dreams. Girls are encouraged to risk failure and to learn from their mistakes. Girls Incorporated® Operation SMART™(pdf) builds girls’ skills and interest in science, math, and technology. Hands-on activities give girls the opportunity to explore, ask questions, and solve problems in a girl-focused setting.

Girls have the right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence.

Every girl growing up today must plan to achieve economic self-sufficiency. As the nation’s leading advocate for girls, Girls Inc. recognizes that economic literacy is an essential part of giving girls the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to achieve financial independence, and take charge of their lives. Girls Inc. recognizes that every girl should possess the skills, knowledge and confidence she needs to achieve financial independence and take charge of her life. Girls Incorporated® Economic Literacy™(pdf) introduces girls as young as six to basic financial concepts, including money management and investing.

Girls have the right to have confidence in themselves and to be safe in the world.

Girls Inc. strengthens girls with the knowledge and skills to live safer lives, and believes that girls have a right to move about freely in society, to participate in redefining the roles of women, and to change the policies, practices, and realities that limit them. With new-found confidence, Girls Inc. girls talk smarter and stand taller as they stride down their chosen path. Girls Inc. strengthens girls with knowledge and skills to help them live safer lives and with the ability to defend themselves, if necessary. Girls Incorporated® Project Bold™(pdf) promotes girls’ awareness of their physical safety and boundaries. Girls develop techniques for self-defense and violence prevention. Girls Incorporated® Sporting Chance™(pdf) builds movement and athletic skills, cooperative and competitive spirit, health awareness, and interest in all sports as girls explore sports-related career opportunities and healthy risk-taking.

 Click here for Girls' Bill of Rights.