The New Leadership Landscape: What Girls Say About Election 2008 Girl Scout Research Institute...

The New Leadership Landscape: What Girls Say About Election

2008Girl Scout Research Institute

January 2009

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GIRL SCOUT RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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Introduction and MethodologyGoal: Examine the impact of the election on girls’ leadership aspirations and interest in civic participation.

• Online interviews conducted with a sample of 3,284 respondents between the ages of 13 and 17– 2,309 girls and 975 boys– Oversampling of African American, Hispanic, and Asian youth– Data weighted to produce a final sample representative of the general

population of young people in the United States

• Interviews conducted November 11-December 2, 2008

• Conducted with Fluent, a NYC-based public opinion and market research firm


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Table of Contents

I. Engagement in the 2008 presidential campaign

II. Young people’s choice of president

III. Expectations for the Obama administration

IV. Perceptions of fairness in the political process

V. Gender and race as factors in the election

VI. Impact of the election on perceptions of gender equality

VII. Impact of the election on leadership aspirations of youth

VIII. Conclusions


44

High engagement in campaign

• A majority of both girls and boys report that the election outcome really mattered to them.


55

High engagement is manifest in behaviors

During the 2008 presidential campaign, how much did…(% who said a lot)

61%

51%

48%

42%

14%

55%

44%

45%

34%

12%

you talk about the election with your family?

your teachers at school talk about the election inclass?

your parents or relatives encourage you to follow theelections?

you talk about the election with your friends?

your religious leader talk about the election at church,synagogue or mosque?

Girls Boys


6


777

The historic nature of the campaign was one source of enthusiasm

How exciting was it for you personally that in 2008 elections, two women ran for the offices of president and vice president?

39%22%

36%33%

16%

11% 24%10%3%

6%

Girls Boys

Didn't make much of a differenceNot at all excitingNot that excitingSomewhat excitingVery exciting


88

The historic nature of the campaign was one source of enthusiasm

How exciting was it for you personally that an African American was elected the next president of the United States?

40% 34%

25% 25%

12% 12%10% 11%14% 19%

Girls Boys

Didn't make much of a differenceNot at all excitingNot that excitingSomewhat excitingVery exciting


99

Excitement is particularly strong among African American youth

How exciting was it for you personally that an African American was elected the next president of the United States?

25%

84%

48%37%

18%

80%

40%30%

27%

10%

26%38%

26%

11%

29% 48%17%

1%

7% 8%

16%

1%

10%8%

14%7% 6%

15%

7%2%

17% 12% 11%25%

7%14% 12%4%

Caucasian AfricanAmerican

Hispanic Asian Caucasian AfricanAmerican

Hispanic Asian

Very exciting Somewhat exciting Not that exciting Not at all exciting Didn't make much of a difference

Girls Boys


1010

In their own words…

“It showed that women can do anything they set their mind to.”

–13-year-old girl

“It gives me hope that people care more about issues like the economy and the environment than they do about race.”

–16-year-old girl

“It showed if a black man can be president, then a Hispanic person can do it, too,

and even a woman. Both of which I am.” –14-year-old girl

“Obama has inspired me to be my best as an African American. He makes me feel

there's nothing I can't do if I put my mind to it. Black people have a real role model in Barack Obama. He's not just an athlete or

musician or actor. He's our president.” –16-year-old girl


1111

Excitement over youth power

“I was most inspired by the energy of young people who truly began to take a stand and fight for what they believed was right and best for their country. Young people, after all, are the next generation of U.S. leaders, and will have to deal with the choices of the president for much longer than your average 65-year-old voter.” –16-year-old girl


1212

Widespread support for Obama

• Barack Obama would have won the 13-17-year-old vote with a wider margin than he did the national election:

– 60% of survey respondents said they would have voted for the Democratic Party nominee and just 26% said they would have voted for John McCain (compared to the 53/46% split in the national election).

• His victory would have been based on majorities in both girls’ (61%) and boys’ (57%) votes.

• Obama would have won majority-support of every major ethnic group.

• The results of a hypothetical youth vote are more or less in line with the actual election results.


1313

Obama would have won every ethnic group

Gen

der

Eth

nic

ity

Eth

nic

ity

and

Gen

der

14

Voting patterns in line with election resultsP

aren

ts’

Par

ty

Aff

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ion

Par

ents

’ Id

eolo

gy

An

nu

al

Ho

use

ho

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Inco

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Typ

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1515

High expectations for the Obama administration

Do you expect the newly elected president to bring change to the country?

Boys

“Even though I wanted McCain to be president, I believe that Obama can make very positive change in our country because of his evenly mixed, ‘not too serious’ personality, and that's inspiring.” –15-year-old girl

65%13%

5%

17%

Yes, positive change

Yes, negative change

No, no change

Don't know

Girls


1616

Aggressive agenda for president-elect, with economy topping the list

How important is it to you that the newly elected president addresses the following issues?

% who said “very important” Girls BoysThe economy 85% 82%

War in Iraq 75% 70%

Education 75% 63%

Job creation 71% 68%

Health care 70% 62%

Uniting the country 65% 59%

College tuition 65% 58%

Taxes 63% 60%

Environment 62% 53%

Racial equality 57% 49%

Immigration 47% 45%

Gender equality 52% 34%

Social issues (e.g., abortion, gay rights) 45% 34%

Engaging youth in community service 43% 35%


1717

Fairness of the political process is in the eye of the beholder

Do you think the female candidates were treated as fairly as the male candidates in this campaign cycle?

Yes, as fairly

No, not as fairly

Not sure

Girls 44% 39% 17%

Boys 42% 36% 21%

Caucasian girls 37% 45% 17%

Caucasian boys 39% 38% 23%

African American girls 65% 19% 16%

African American boys 60% 20% 20%

Hispanic girls 48% 37% 15%

Hispanic boys 36% 45% 20%

Asian girls 41% 33% 26%

Asian boys 50% 32% 18%

Republican households 28% 57% 15%

Democratic households 55% 28% 17%

Independent households 42% 40% 18%

Would have voted for Obama 56% 27% 17%

Would have voted for McCain 23% 63% 14%


1818

Perceptions of gender and race bias in candidates’ treatment

• Gender was not perceived to be uniform in its implications for the candidates. More respondents saw gender as a barrier for Sarah Palin than did for Hillary Clinton.

– 38% of girls said that gender didn’t matter in how Hillary Clinton was treated, whereas 31% said gender did not matter for Sarah Palin.

– 24% said that gender hurt Clinton, but 34% said it hurt Palin.

• Similarly, the impact of race was not clear-cut for young people: While one in three believe that Barack Obama was held to a higher standard because of his race, 48% believe that race ultimately helped him in the elections.

“Men don't like powerful women. I think they are threatening to men. Poor Sarah Palin—just because she’s attractive, people tried to make her out to be

dumb and vain. Poor Hillary Clinton—just because she is smart and ambitious, people made her out to be hard and mean.” –17-year-old girl


1919

Merit trumps race and gender in choice of candidates among youth

How important are the following factors in your decision to support a candidate for president of the United States?

(% who said very important)

79%

67%

49%

16%

14%

6%

5%

77%

63%

47%

14%

13%

6%

4%

Candidate's stance on issues

Candidate's leadership style

Candidate's personality

Candidate's religion

Candidate's age

Candidate's race

Candidate's gender

Girls Boys


2020

Gender is not the deciding factor for the

majority of girls

“It really inspired me not to look at race or gender but to really

look deeply at their thoughts and stances, their points of view on problems we have, and how they are going

to help us.” --13-year-old girl


2121

Electing a female president is desirable but not essential

How would you feel if in the next presidential election not a single woman were running for the offices of president and/or vice president?

10%

36%

44%

10%8%

19%

64%

9%

Happy Disappointed Wouldn'tmatter

Don't know

Girls Boys


2222

Yet expectations are high for advancement of women and ethnic minorities

Girls Boys

How likely do you think it is that a woman will be elected U.S. president in the next 10 years?

23% 20%

48% 49%

13% 13%2% 2%

14% 16%

Girls Boys

Definitely happen Probably happen

Probably not happen Definitely not happen

Don't know


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“Do not take any crap… It’s no longer a man’s world.”

--13-year-old girl

“Go for it! You have just as much of the ability to run

the country that a man does. I would like to see you

become the next president. Women can do anything they set their minds to.” --15-year-old girl

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Some advice to women candidates

“Be yourself, be sincere, don’t be married to Bill Clinton.”

--15-year-old girl

“You have to know 10 times more than a man knows

just to keep up with him.” --16-year-old girl

“Don’t think you have to speak out just on ‘women’s issues’;

think of yourself as a candidate, not just a ‘woman candidate.’”

--18-year-old girl

“Buy your own clothes always.” --15-year-old girl

“Make sure there are no skeletons in your closet. Be good looking,

tell it like it is, and have billions of dollars

to spend on a campaign.” --13-year-old girl

“Stay positive. You go, girl!

--14-year-old girl


2424

Enhanced appreciation of women’s ability to lead…

Has the 2008 presidential election changed your opinion about women’s abilities to be a leader?

46%

3%

44%

6%

38%

3%

49%

10%

More able Less able Opinion hasn'tchanged

Not sure

Girls Boys


2525

…women’s skills and roles

It is unladylike to be a leader On the whole, men make better political leaders than

women

Managing money Collaborating with others

Handling a crisis


2626

…and difficulties they face

Girls have to work harder than boys in order to gain positions of leadership.

In our society, it is more difficult to become a leader for a woman than a

man.

Today, both men and women have an equal chance of getting a

leadership position.


2727

The election has boosted youth confidence and interest in public participation

What kind of impact did the 2008 election have on your?...

% who said positive impact Girls Boys

Intention to vote when you reach eligible age 72% 68%

Confidence in being able to achieve your goals in the future 59% 52%

Comfort level in speaking up and expressing your opinions on issues that matter to you

55% 47%

Confidence in your ability to change things in the country 51% 45%

Interest in politics 50% 44%

Interest in social and political activism 46% 38%

Interest in community service or volunteer activity 44% 31%

Desire to be a leader 41% 34%

Desire to be a leader at school or in an after-school program 38% 29%

Desire to be a leader in your community 37% 30%

Desire to be a political leader 23% 20%


2828


“This election has inspired me to speak my own voice.”

–13-year-old girl

“Inspired me to be more active in my community and that with hard work

and determination all things are possible.” –17-year-old girl

“It inspires me to be more outspoken on my views of politics and the issues.” –14-year-old girl

“Has inspired me to be more involved in politics and to be educated on issues

that matter to me.” –15-year-old girl

“To become politically active when I am old enough.”

–13-year-old girl

“Can’t wait till I am old enough to vote.”

–13-year-old girl


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No immediate impact on desire of youth to be leaders

• No significant increase in those who think of themselves as leaders or want to be leaders as compared to the GSRI 2008 “Change It Up!” study.

• The majority of girls and boys say the election has had no impact on their desire to be leaders.– Notable exception: African American youth and Leadership

Vanguard

% who said no impact Girls Boys

Desire to be a political leader 59% 63%

Desire to be a leader in your community 50% 57%

Desire to be a leader at school or in an after-school program

50% 59%

Desire to be a leader 47% 54%


3030

Optimism about one’s chances of becoming president of the United States

How likely is it for a girl/boy like you to be president one day?

38%27%

30%

29%

10%14%

12%19%

9% 11%

Girls Boys

Very likely Somewhat likely Somewhat unlikely Very unlikely Don't know


3131


“Obama inspired me to seek leadership in my school.”

–16-year-old girl

“I can be anything I would like to be. The color of your skin or

the fact that you are male or female does not limit your goals.”

–13-year-old girl

“If someday I want to be president, there is no stopping me.”

–14-year-old girl

“He says ‘yes we can’ and now I feel that I can, too.

If I put my mind to something, then I can do it.” –14-year-old girl

“To the moon and beyond the stars. I can achieve my goals

if I work hard.” –13-year-old girl


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Conclusions• High engagement in the 2008 presidential election.

• The historic nature of the 2008 election cycle has clearly contributed to the enthusiasm of young people.

• Girls and boys have recognized that the voices of young people like them made a real difference in this election.

• The most immediate impact of the election is a heightened interest in the political process and social activism.

• Even a more encouraging development is the perceived impact of the election on young people’s confidence and self-assurance, especially among girls.


3333

Conclusions• The election has had less of an immediate impact on girls’ and

boys’ desire to be leaders, whether at school, in their communities, or of the country.

• By boosting girls’ self-confidence and their interest in political and social activism—factors predictive of leadership aspirations—the 2008 presidential election may eventually have a stronger impact than is immediately apparent.

• While the election has illustrated the capabilities and leadership qualities of women, it has also underscored the barriers women face in seizing those opportunities.

• Far from being deterred from seeking out leadership opportunities, girls are confident in their chances of assuming leadership roles.


3434

“I can be anything I want to be.” --16-year-old girl

The New Leadership Landscape: What Girls Say About Election 2008 Girl Scout Research Institute...

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