The following is excerpted from an online article posted by Parents
Girlhood, especially around adolescence, is often marked by extreme transformation and overwhelming anxiety. Girls fear that their appearance is being scrutinized, their bodies are judged, but so is their ambition, their attitude, and their still-developing sexuality. On top of that, they have to constantly be on guard for threats to their safety—all while most likely facing intense pressure to decide if they want to pursue a career or family—or both.
For those reasons, it should shock absolutely no one that young girls are experiencing increasing rates of anxiety about their future, according to new data gathered by the Girl Scouts of the USA. According to the survey, 54% of girls ages 5–13 say the idea of becoming an adult feels scary or overwhelming—that percentage only got higher as the girls got older: 60% of girls ages 11–13 said the same thing.
The Girl Scouts recommends that the supportive adults in the lives of young girls should prioritize building up their confidence and resilience, teaching them real-life skills like financial literacy, and model the ability to pursue both their goals and self-care in their own lives. By emphasizing these values, girls learn from adults they trust that they don’t have to sacrifice their self-worth and principles to be successful and happy.
Source: Parents
https://www.parents.com/why-more-girls-than-ever-feel-anxious-about-growing-up-according-to-the-girl-scouts-11951743