OAKLAND,
Calif., April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Girls
Leadership, in collaboration with Evaluation Studio and the Girls
Leadership's Youth Research Council (YRC), announces the release of
the pioneering study "Why We Lead: Understanding and Supporting the
Leadership of AANHPI Girls and Gender-Expansive Youth."
Groundbreaking Report Reveals Untold
Stories of AANHPI Girls and Gender-Expansive Youth Leadership
Drawing from 2,200+ youth participants and 500 teachers, this
comprehensive report illuminates the leadership aspirations and
challenges faced by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander (AANHPI) girls and gender-expansive youth.
Youth-Led Research
Central to the report's
authenticity is the involvement of the YRC, comprising 17 AANHPI
youth selected from a pool of over 500 applicants. The YRC
spearheaded the endeavor and reflects the core belief of Girls
Leadership that AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth are the
best people to express and investigate their leadership
development.
Challenging the Status Quo
In this groundbreaking
approach, "Why We Lead" confronts the underrepresentation of AANHPI
individuals, particularly women, in leadership positions across
various sectors. By delving into the intricate interplay of gender,
race, ethnicity, and other intersecting identities, "Why We Lead"
unveils nuanced narratives often obscured by conventional labels
like "glass ceiling" and "bamboo ceiling."
"Why We Lead" delivers a poignant narrative of the diverse
experiences and perspectives within the AANHPI community, and
uncovers the multifaceted dynamics of identity, culture, and
systemic barriers that shape the leadership journey of AANHPI girls
and gender-expansive youth.
Key Findings Illuminate the Path Forward
Among the
key findings are the aspirations of AANHPI youth to lead, the
influence of culture and generational immigration status on
leadership perceptions, and the dual role of schools as communities
of support and sites of discrimination.
Armed with these insights and by addressing systemic barriers,
promoting inclusivity, and amplifying AANHPI voices, we can pave
the way for a more equitable and empowering future.
Empowering Change
"Why We Lead" is a clear call to
action to support AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth in their
leadership journeys. Most AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth
see themselves as leaders, or are aspiring to leadership and we
must create the conditions for them to lead. These conditions
include expanding our understanding of leadership as something
rooted in culture and lived experience; learning and respecting
what motivates leadership; acknowledging and addressing the
internal and structural barriers they face; and leaning into the
potential for school to be a source of community.
Special Thanks
Girls Leadership extends heartfelt
gratitude to all the AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth
who shared their time, stories, and courage. Special thanks to
Morgan Stanley and TAAF, the lead sponsors of this important
work.
About Girls Leadership
Girls Leadership is a national
educational nonprofit teaching girls to exercise the power of their
voice through programs grounded in social-emotional learning. Girls
Leadership centers gender and racial equity in their work to
address the internal and external barriers to leadership
development.
For media inquiries or to access the full report, please contact
Simone Marean at
simone@girlsleadership.org, 917-439-7969.
Contact:
Simone Marean, Co-CEO
Girls Leadership
simone@girlsleadership.org
917-439-7969
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SOURCE Girls Leadership