Defining Success

National study points to the power of Girl Scouting

How do women define success? A study, conducted by Louis Harris & Associates Inc. finds that feeling good about themselves, good health and personal relationships are critical factors to success for women. The study, Defining Success: American Women, Achievement and the Girl Scouts, is one of the first to examine the link between women's work, achievement and life satisfaction. The study, commissioned by Girl Scouts of the USA, also seeks to understand the factors in childhood that lead to success in both personal relationships and professional life in adulthood.

The Harris study reaffirms the importance of Girl Scouting in shaping the lives of tomorrow's women. As all Girl Scouts know, Girl Scouting helps young women to be successful in all aspects of their lives and to achieve their greatest potential. Girl Scouts of the USA commissioned the Defining Success study to determine how Girl Scouting can best continue to help today's girls pave their way to their own success as tomorrow's leaders.

The survey compares and contrasts a random sampling of American women with women of professional achievement, such as doctors, lawyers and educators as well as women of distinction. The last category includes women such as popular singer Natalie Merchant, broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff, Essence magazine editor Susan Taylor and many others.

The report shows that many elements identified by women as key contributors to success were nurtured by their childhood experiences, including being members in youth-serving organizations such as Girl Scouts. The survey indicates that two-thirds of women who have made achievements professionally and 41 percent of the total women who responded were Girl Scouts when growing up. In addition, the study shows that Girl Scouts had a positive impact on most adult women's lives, including their ability to work with others and make friends, develop moral values and self-confidence, and serve as a volunteer.

Singer Natalie Merchant is quoted in the survey as saying, "I think the most enduring lesson I was taught through my experiences of being a Girl Scout was that I was a member of a larger community. I outgrew my uniforms and badges years ago, but the memories of visiting nursing homes or organizing Earth Day tree plantings or my summers at camp with girls from different backgrounds will stay with me always."

For Essence magazine editor Susan Taylor, "Being a Girl Scout pushed me to challenge myself when I felt like giving up and taught me that I could do anything that I put my heart into. Primarily, it was the encouragement and comfort of being in a circle of girls and seeing myself reflected in their eyes and experiences that was so affirming and gratifying."

"Girl Scouts offered a wonderful group of girls where common concerns and interests could come together," broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff recalls. "We could learn, be challenged and support one another. It was a very positive aspect of my life and played an important role in shaping who I am today."

Girl Scouts is the world's preeminent organization for girls, with a membership of more than 3.6 million girls and adults. Today, as when founded in 1912, Girl Scouts helps cultivate values, social conscience and self-esteem in young girls, while also teaching them critical life skills that will enable them to succeed as adults. In Girl Scouting, and its special, girls-only environment, girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together.