Summit for Middle School Girls in Hardin County
The Ohio Northern University Institute for Civics and Public Policy (ICAPP) and the political science honorary society (Pi Sigma Alpha) are hosting an event for middle school girls in Hardin County on March 30.. The Girls Increasing Representation Leadership Summit (G.I.R.L.S) promotes the importance of leadership among young girls and is funded by a grant by the national organization of Pi Sigma Alpha.
Students from Ada, Hardin Northern, Kenton, Ridgemont, and Upper Scioto Valley have been invited to participate. Teachers and administrators were asked to nominate two students from each grade to attend the event. Mayor Christina Muryn from Findlay and Mayor Sharetta Smith of Lima will participate in a panel where they will discuss their experiences as local leaders, their roles as mayors, and take questions from participants. Following the panel, students will get the opportunity to identify a problem that they encounter in their local community or school and work to solve that problem. Ohio Northern student leaders will help facilitate the participants in their projects.
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Research shows that there is a large gap in political socialization between boys and girls when it comes to leadership opportunities. One study finds that by middle school, girls report less interest in political activities, less knowledge of political figures, and are less likely to want a job in politics. Ohio Northern Instructor, Dr. Theresa Schroeder Hageman states: “Adults are less likely to talk to girls about politics which makes them less interested. Combine this with the fact that girls are less likely to see people that look like them in political leadership and we get fewer women seeking political leadership roles.” She adds that “the summit seeks to address the issue of lack of political socialization of girls.”
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