Girls & Young Women
Young women and girls in Monterey County are a symbol of promise for the future of our community. As discussed above, data shows that they are making several positive strides: educational scores among girls are increasing, more local girls are graduating from high school, and the rate of births to teen mothers is dropping. Many young women are genuinely committed to “giving back” to their communities, to help improve the prospects of the generations to come.
At the same time, substantial challenges exist that threaten the wellbeing of local youth: The rate of State college or university attendance among graduates of public high schools in Monterey County has declined steadily over the past 5 years. Traditional gender roles and family obligations (as well as financial constraints) place limitations on many young women’s pursuit of higher education. And many young women continue to be threatened by interpersonal violence, in the streets, in their school yards and in their homes.
Education is a priority for the girls who contributed to this report, but they feel that schools are under-resourced and under staffed. Of particular importance in their view are resources for early health education and promotion; timely substance abuse prevention and intervention; mental health and career counseling; and free quality extra-curricular activities, such as arts, sports and academic support.
Home-based and summer tutoring were services they said they would like to see, which would help young girls who are obligated to stay home to care for their siblings (or their own infants) to make progress toward their educational goals. They identified affordable childcare as a high priority. They also expressed the need for programs that facilitate good communication between parents and children, and those that offer support and information regarding health (both mental and physical), and career training and placement.
Girls participating in this project also called for a shift in community attitudes, citing the need to address the impact on youth of mass media that glamorize alcohol and drug use. They encouraged a public focus on “the good things that young people do” and developing an atmosphere of acknowledgment and celebration of youth who don’t use drugs or alcohol and who are not involved in gang activity.
Local leadership programs are in place to provide education, role models and linkages to financial and educational resources that strengthen girls’ resolve to pursue higher education and professional careers. Young women participating in these programs sing their praises, and have called for additional services that would expand girls’ opportunities to benefit from mentoring, recreation, community service and making healthy connections with others.
Monterey County has a number of resources available to support young women and girls in developing knowledge, healthy habits and attitudes that will serve them, their families and their communities long into adulthood. One of these is the young women themselves! Serving them, listening to them, and honoring them and their accomplishments will yield benefits for years to come.
Confirmed in Compliance with National