Why We Exist

Body Image

In 2006, more that 84% of girls believed they had to be thin to be popular – up from 75% in 2000 (Girls, Inc., 2006)

Mind, Body & Spirit

* 39.4% of female Texas high school students report depressive symptoms, feeling sad or hopeless. (Department of Health and Human Services, 2005)

* One in 10 teenage girls reported using a perscription drug to get high at least once in the past year, but for teenage boys the ratio was only close to one out of 13. (White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2007)

Peer Relationships

* 49% of girls ages 13-18 who have been in a relationship have done something that went against their values or beliefs in order to please a boyfriend or girlfriend (Love is Not Abuse, 2006)

* 29% of girls ages 13-18 who have been in a relationship have been pressured to have sex or engage in sexual acts when they did not want to (Love Is Not Abuse, 2006).

* 77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally and physically (i-SAFE Survey, 2004).

* Each day 160,000 students miss school across the US for fear of being bullied (i-SAFE Survey, 2004).

Juvenile Justice

* In 2003, 29% of all juvenile arrests were female – an increase from 20% in 1980 (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2006).

* Between 1980 and 2003 there was a 47% increase in female juvenile arrests for violent crimes and a 26% decrease in male juvenile arrests for violent crimes (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2006).

* The number of female juvenile offenders in custody increased 52% from 1991 to 2003 (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2006).