Recently I wrote and published an editorial in The Salt Lake Tribune called “In Utah, a woman’s choice can often be an illusion.” I read and comment on this piece during this episode. So much of this relates to how we are socialized more generally, and particularly in the Church. I believe you'll appreciate what I'm trying to teach here. Of course, I would also appreciate hearing from you at unleashingsistersaints@gmail.com!

I really appreciated the writings of Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye, as she was such a powerful women scholar and writer in the Church. A few months before her passing, I read her final book, titled “Sacred Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance.” I was profoundly impacted by the book and Melissa’s vulnerability in her writing. I never met her personally but read her work on women and religion. She passed away in April of 2024 at 44 years of age. When I read hard copies of books, I highlight them and have an assistant type them up, so I have 12 pages of notes! I thought I would share some of the passages I really appreciate.

Link to Melissa's book.

This is the fourth and final episode in a series I’ve been doing to share the key findings of a large 2023 study called The Girls’ Index. The first focused on confidence and social media, the second on stress and well-being, and the third on school. Now, in this final episode focuses on the topic of leadership and relationships.

As a reminder, The Girls’ Index, the largest study of its kind, shared compelling data on girls in the United States, with 17,502 girls in 5th through 12th grades participating from schools nationwide. Researchers collected data for the first time in 2017 and then again in 2023. The purpose of the study was to better understand girls’ thoughts, experiences, perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors so that parents, teachers, school counselors, faith-based youth leaders, neighbors, and others can figure out how to better provide support for girls and young women in today’s world. Listen in and learn!

For the last two episodes, I’ve been sharing the results of a large study on girls, and today I’m going to share the third set of findings (and I’ll finish up with the next episode). In this episode, I share results on the impact of school on girls and how they feel about it. School is a big part of how girls feel about life!

As a reminder, The Girls’ Index shared compelling data on girls in the United States and was the largest survey of its kind, with 17,502 girls in 5th through 12th grades participating from schools nationwide. Researchers collected data for the first time in 2017 and then again in 2023. They explored six categories of concern, which included confidence, social media, stress and well-being, school, leadership, and relationships. The purpose of the study was to understand girls’ thoughts, experiences, perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors—a tall order indeed!

This information can be helpful for raising our next generation of women in the Church. Listen in!

In the last episode, I talked about the results of a major study on girls in the United States, and I shared some results on girls’ confidence and social media. As a reminder, I’m talking about a major study that was published in 2023 called, The Girls’ Index. The report highlighted compelling data on girls in the United States (I’m sure it is similar for other counties as well). It was the largest national survey of its kind, with 17,502 girls in 5th through 12th grades participating from schools nationwide. In this episode, I focus on stress and wellbeing. I integrate how these findings can inform our work with girls and young women in the Church and in society as well.

Although I love this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt - “No one can make me feel inferior without my consent" - I must say that teen girls are struggling right now and need help.

In 2023 a large study, The Girls’ Index⁠, reported compelling data on girls in the U.S. It was the largest national survey of its kind, with 17,502 girls participating. Researchers collected data for the first time in 2017 and then again in 2023. They explored things that would help anyone who influences girls (e.g., parents, family members, teachers, coaches, religious youth leaders) better understand girls’ thoughts, experiences, perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors. The researchers partnered with schools nationwide to survey girls in 5th through 12th grades. The results linking confidence and social media are convincing., and I share those and other thoughts in this episode. Listen in!

Resources:

The Girls' Index: https://www.rulingourexperiences.com/research

A Future Only God Can See for You (chapters on confidence and social media): https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susan-R.-Madsen/author/B001JSJNK0?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

For this last episode of 2024, I wanted to talk about how expectations for ourselves and others sometimes need to shift and that's okay. I share some personal examples, while also discussing how our definitions of "success" may also change. I'll get back to sharing some research next year but wanted to end the year with some personal reflections and experiences.

When we consider how we want to use our time in better ways in 2025, I've been thinking of the time we sometimes spend being offended, and why we take offense. I walk through a recent experience of where I temporarily took offense and analyzed why I did, and how I worked quickly to get it out of my system. I also wrestle through how we can overcome feelings of offense as well. Listen in!