Teenage Girls Today More Independent, Yet Lack Self Esteem

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 19, 1998 -- Teenage girls today are more independent and see greater opportunities available to them than their baby boomer parents did at their age, according to a survey of health educators by The Vagisil Women's Health Center(SM). Yet, these same girls also have less self-confidence and weaker self-images than their parents' generation, the survey, which was conducted at the annual convention of the American Association for Health Education (AAHE), indicated.

The survey was conducted to learn what educators feel are the major health issues for teenage girls. "This survey indicates that girls are still struggling with many of the same issues of previous generations," says Iris Prager, a Board member of AAHE who helped conduct the survey. "In spite of the many gains women have made, we seem to go through the same rites of passage that our mothers and grandmothers did."

While it might appear that teenage girls' increased independence and positive view of potential opportunities would signal greater, rather than lower self-esteem, "It could simply be that more mothers have jobs and careers outside of the home, making their daughters more independent out of necessity," says Prager. She adds that teenage girls today are largely unaware of the struggles that women have gone through to gain job and other opportunities, taking those opportunities for granted.

What Factors Affect Self-esteem?

According to the survey, physical appearance ranks the highest as "extremely" or "very" important to teenage girls self-esteem, followed by popularity among boys, popularity among girls, puberty, sexual activity and family. Sports participation, extra-curricular activities, intelligence and grades were considered by respondents as "somewhat important" by nearly half the group.

About a third of the respondents indicated that teenage girls today have more self-confidence (than their parents' generation), while roughly half feel they have less. More than half also feel they have weaker self images, while some 20 percent said they have stronger self images. More than two-thirds of the respondents believe teenage girls today to be more independent than their mothers' generation.

Biggest Health Concerns and Biggest Misconceptions

Diet and health (specifically weight loss or gain) was the most often cited "biggest health concern" of teen girls today, followed by sexual issues, skin problems and drug and alcohol use (smoking included). Eating disorders and feminine health (infections, menstrual cramps, odor, etc.) were tied for fifth place, followed by sexually transmitted diseases, mental health (depression and suicide), disease and environmental issues.

Among the biggest misconceptions teenage girls have, say these health educators, are pregnancy and the "it won't happen to me" belief. Misconceptions about menstruation, weight control, sex and sexually transmitted diseases were also cited.

Knowledge About Health Concerns

The majority of respondents (58%) indicated that teenage girls are "somewhat knowledgeable" about personal health concerns; an equal number -- roughly 15% -- felt that they were "very knowledgeable" or "not very knowledgeable."

With regard to the causes of feminine itching and infection, teenage girls, the majority of respondents (40%) say, are "not very knowledgeable"; 34% say they are "somewhat knowledgeable." An almost equal number of respondents -- 39% and 36% -- believe teens are "somewhat" or "not very" knowledgeable, respectively, about the prevention and treatment of feminine itching and infections.

Some 42% of respondents report that feminine itching and infections are not part of their school's personal health curriculum. When asked if their curriculums are "restrained" by state and local mandates, a majority (51%) say they are.

The Vagisil Women's Health Center is a source of information and experts on feminine health concerns offering educational brochures and an opportunity for women of all ages to "Ask the Experts" via e-mail at: Femhealth@aol.com, A web site, which is under development, will offer a broad range of feminine health information at http://www.vagisil.com, and will be ready by the end of the year. A brochure for teenage girls: That Unspeakable Itch, What Every Young Woman Needs to Know About Feminine Itching and Infection is available free by writing: Vagisil Women's Health Center, "Teen Brochure," P.O. Box 328-TVG, White Plains, NY 10602-0328.

Web Site: http://www.vagisil.com

CONTACT: Media - Robin Russo or Alyson O'Mahone, both of Robin Leedy & Associates, Inc., 914-241-0086, or RobinLeedy@ao1.com; Consumers - Femhealth@aol.com