Ruling Our eXperiences, Inc. (ROX)

Hey Wisconsin! This Friday, November 8, two fabulous ROX Facilitators are presenting at the Wisconsin School Counselor Association Conference! Here are all the details: Session Title: How the ROX Program for Girls Decreased our Girl Drama & Increased Sense of Belonging (Middle | High; Basic; Social/Emotional; 8:35 am - 8:55 am) Join two counselors from the School District of River Falls as they cover how the ROX small group curriculum has had an impact on the wellbeing of their girls. The ROX Program equips girls in grades 5- 12 with the essential life skills they need to succeed in relationships, academics, and life through an evidence-based small group curriculum that has been validated with over 40,000 girls. Presenters: Geri Muller, MS - School Counseling, School Counselor, and Sam Dusek, School Counselor, School District of River Falls We're so grateful for Geri and Sam! #ForTheGoodOfGirls

The Girls’ Index data reveals a decline in girls’ confidence in being ‘smart enough’ for their dream careers. 58% of 9-12th grade girls do not believe they are smart enough for their dream job. This drop in self-assurance is mirrored in their attitudes towards math and science, subjects generally considered essential for STEM fields. Unfortunately, this decline occurs across the board, affecting even the highest-achieving girls. 40% of girls with a 4.0 grade point average are not sure if they are smart enough for their dream career. Despite strong academic performance, many girls increasingly doubt their capabilities in math and science as they advance through middle and high school. If we want to create a future of female STEM leaders, we need to be building girls’ confidence and self-efficacy. It's crucial that we create safe spaces for girls to experiment, fail, and learn from their mistakes in STEM activities. Regular "Failure Fridays" in STEM classes, where students share their missteps and what they learned from them, can help normalize the process of trial and error that is so central to scientific inquiry and innovation. To learn more, download our Girls & STEM Report at https://lnkd.in/dfcUrHFa

Last week was a special one at ROX! We welcomed our 2023 and 2024 cohorts of Dr. Patty Diversity Fellows to Columbus for their ROX training and colloquium. Named in honor and memory of Dr. Patricia F.R. Cunningham II, a champion for girls, equity, access and social change, this Fellowship increases access to ROX’s robust, evidence-based Program for Girls and provides leadership opportunities for diverse female educators and school mental health professionals. The fellows will now deliver the 20-week school-based ROX program for girls at their schools, while continuing their fellowship experiences. Leah Borden, Senior Advisor to the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship shared, “When girls in ROX have a Dr. Patty Fellow as their facilitator, they experience the impact of a ‘real life’ role model who looks like them –  one who continually shows up for them, believes in them and invests in them. This profoundly increases their connection to school and their sense of belonging in their educational environment.” We're so grateful for these incredible women who are so dedicated to making the world a safer place for girls. Special thanks to our friends at Zora's House for hosting our second year fellows for a workshop and tour! And of course: thanks to the Bath and Body Works Foundation for underwriting the Fellowship, and the PNC Foundation for additional funding!

The Girls’ Index™: Girls & STEM report shows that interest in STEM doesn’t vary significantly across race or socioeconomic status. Confidence, however, seems to be a key issue. The Girls’ Index data reveals a decline in girls’ confidence in being ‘smart enough’ for their dream careers. This drop in self-assurance is mirrored in their attitudes towards math and science, subjects generally considered essential for STEM fields. Unfortunately, this decline occurs across the board, affecting even the highest-achieving girls. Despite strong academic performance, many girls increasingly doubt their capabilities in math and science as they advance through middle and high school. If we want to create a future of female STEM leaders, we need to be building girls’ confidence and self-efficacy. To learn more about how we can build the next generation of female STEM leaders, download our Girls & STEM report at https://lnkd.in/dfcUrHFa #STEM #GirlsandSTEM #STEMGIRLS #STEMLeadership #STEMCareers #Confidence #GirlsConfidence #Educators #Education #SchoolCounselors

The Girls’ Index: Girls & STEM report shows that overwhelmingly want a career that helps others (86%), however far fewer (49%) report that they are considering a STEM career AND a career that helps others. In other words? We need to be showing girls HOW STEM careers can also be helping careers. When girls see how scientists, engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, etc. are helping the world through their fields, they’ll have a wider range of career options to explore. It's not enough to speak of technological advances or scientific breakthroughs in abstract terms. We need to paint a vivid picture of how STEM professionals are at the forefront of solving real- world problems and improving lives. For instance: imagine a biology lesson that doesn't just cover cell structure but explores how cellular research is paving the way for new cancer treatments. To learn more, download The Girls' Index™: Girls & STEM Impact Report at https://lnkd.in/dfcUrHFa #STEM #GirlsandSTEM #STEMGIRLS #STEMLeadership #STEMCareers #Confidence #GirlsConfidence #Educators #Education #SchoolCounselors

We're grateful that Newsweek covered our latest research: The Girls' Index™: Girls & STEM Report. This report not only includes critical data about the current landscape of girls and STEM, but offers tangible recommendations for how we can create a more equitable STEM landscape. "Our girls are on the brink of incredible STEM opportunities, their interest high and their aspirations strong," Lisa Hinkelman, ROX Founder and CEO, said in a statement. "Yet, we also see them grappling with declining confidence, persistent stereotypes and a disconnect between their desire to help others and their perception of STEM careers. It is our responsibility – as educators, STEM professionals and members of the community – to bridge these gaps and pave the way for our girls to thrive in STEM fields." The report was based on the responses of 17,500 girls in grades 5 to 12 across the United States. Currently, women only make up 34 percent of the workforce in the STEM field, according to the American Association of University Women, revealing there's still a glaring gender gap in these sectors. https://lnkd.in/eQk7QMC4

The Girls’ Index™: Girls & STEM report shows us that confidence connects to STEM interest for girls. Across age groups, confident girls were 20% more likely to be interested in a STEM occupation than their less confident peers. At ROX, we know the power of building girls’ confidence. It’s what we do in our evidence-based ROX Program for Girls. We hope you’ll join us in creating generations of confident girls. Head to https://lnkd.in/gWMGyHRN to learn how to bring the ROX Program to your school. Scholarships are available to become certified and start your ROX Program. #STEM #GirlsandSTEM #STEMGIRLS #STEMLeadership #STEMCareers #Confidence #GirlsConfidence #Educators #Education #SchoolCounselors

Have you read the Parents.com article on our latest research? Study Finds Girls Want STEM Careers, But Are Unsure if They're Smart Enough Here's how parents can inspire their kids to follow their dreams. https://lnkd.in/eH9M8y4h

Thank you, NBC News and Maya Eaglin for shining a light on our latest research: The Girls' Index™: Girls & STEM Report. This story highlights the report findings that while STEM interest has risen for girls, their confidence in their math and science abilities has decreased. What we're seeing is not a crisis of competence, it's a crisis of confidence. As Lisa Hinkelman, Ph.D. says, we need to create an ecosystem of support that nurtures girls' overall confidence and self-efficacy while simultaneously cultivating their STEM interest and identity. https://lnkd.in/erZ5_3Dn #GirlsLeadSTEM #GirlsAndSTEM #STEMGirls #STEMEducators ##FutureForWomenInSTEM

The exciting news: since the 2017 Girls’ Index™, overall rates of girls’ interest in STEM has increased from 45% to 55%. The greatest gains were among the 5th and 6th grade girls, with nearly 20% more reporting STEM interest. The concerning news: since 2017, girls are less likely to believe they are good at STEM subjects such as math and science. Currently 59% of girls believe they are good at math and science, down from 73% in 2017. So, what can we do? A lot, actually! Download The Girls' Index™: Girls & STEM report to learn more. https://lnkd.in/dfcUrHFa