enough said: young women talk about school, work, and becoming adults

7/28/2019 Enough Said: Young Women Talk About School, Work, and Becoming Adults

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Y Wme Talk Abt Scl,Wrk, ad Becm Adlts:

Why We Should Listen and What We Can DoThis report was researched and written by Vermt Wrks r Wme with support from theVermt Wmes Fd, the Serea Fd, and Bar ad Peter Dressacker, our strong partnersin understanding and addressing the needs of women and girls. Marc 2013

EnoughSaid


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le Vermt sld be prd ts

scl radat rate at 91.4% te

est te ctry a mber ss dcatetat we ave mre t d t esre tat te ext

eerat s ready r cllee ad/r wrk. Ts

reprt csders w well were prepar y

wme, w are twce as lkely t lve pverty

as ter male cterparts, t make rmed,

delberate cces abt edcat ad wrk ad t

slder te acal respsbltes adltd.

Te rtate aswer: t well e.

Ts reprt ares tat rtr te ll

ptetal Vermts atve talet reqres

tat we redble r cmmtmet t wat y

wme tld s tey eed: practcal sklls related t

persal ace ad lv depedetly; alles

w wll prvde spprt ad advce; expsre

t a brad rae careers ad pressal rle

mdels; ad pprttes tat callee adstretc, tr wc tey ca bt d, ad lse,

temselves.

As gverr Peter Sml dcated s

secd aral address Jaary, 2013, te

callees te ew ecmy cmpel s t

embrace cae te way we bt vew ad

delver edcat. Te rapd cae tat s reqred

s s t ptal; t wll dee r sccess r

delver r alre. Te recmmedats

ts paper aret all tats reqred t bld a vtal

Vermt ecmy bt tey are a crtcal part te

wrk; Vermt s t small, ad t ray, t waste

a sle drp talet.

W


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Te isseIn his inuurl ddrss on Jnury , ,govrnor Shumlin cknowldd tht Vr-monts conomy nd its citizns r wllinst ntionl sttistics rltd to un-mloymnt nd conomic rowth. But h

strssd th imortnc o doin bttr.

In , Vrmont ws th only stt inth Union whr incoms ctully rostr dcd o stntion. But its notnouh. Th svnth lowst unmloy-mnt rt, whn you r strulin tond job, is not low nouh. Four rcntincom rowth is bttr thn th rst oamric, but or too mny Vrmontrswho r workin job or multil jobsnd still strulin to y thir bills, itsnot nouh. enjoyin on o th ststconomic rowth rts in th Northstis bttr thn whr w usd to b, butor so mny moms nd dds lik m whownt thir kids to liv nd rosr hr thom, its not nouh. 1

Similrly, whil Vrmont youth do wllinst numbr o ntionl vrs hih

school droout nd tn birth rts, or xm-l sinicnt numbr o thm still strulto notit th to nncil indndnc.Som hv cutiond tht th Stts hihschool rdution rt dosnt mn tht ll

o Vrmonts rduts r rdy or work orcoll. Thir concrns includ: n incrs inth numbr o studnts ntrin coll whorortdly rquir rmdil courss in enlishor mth; th ct tht only % o thos whordut rom hih school rn our-yrdr within six yrs; 2 nd % incrsovr th lst dcd in th rt o - yr-old Vrmontrs who r nithr in school norworkin (or thos btwn nd yrs oldth rt incrsd by ovr %). 3

orResearcThis rort considrs how wll w r rr-

in youn womn to mk inormd, dlibr-t choics bout duction nd work, ndto shouldr th nncil rsonsibilitis oyoun dulthood. It rcts th xrincso irls nd youn womn, s -, rom

towns who joind us in on o nin listn-in sssions lst yr. Th mjority cmrom milis o limitd nncil mns. Thrticints wr vrid in thir connction toschool or xtrcurriculr ctivitis.

To nsur tht w rchd rticints ovrid s, ductionl lvls, nd xri-nc, w hld sssions t hih schools, tncntrs, youth-srvin nonrots, nd t thChittndn Rionl Corrctionl Fcility. Thrort is urthr inormd by survys com-ltd by irls, s -, who ttnddVrmont Works or Womns nnul WomnCn Do Conrnc in Octobr, . Ourrort is roundd in wht currnt rsrchrms bout th nds o this rou nddrws uon wht is nrlly considrd to bbst rctic in mtin ths nds.

Th ct tht this r ocuss on younwomn should not b intrrtd to susttht youn mn do not c mny o th smchllns. Byond rctin Vrmont Worksor Womns rticulr xrtis, or th

Ejy e te astest ecmc rwtrates te nrteast s better ta were wesed t be, bt r s may mms ad dads lkeme w wat ter kds t lve ad prsper ereat me, ts t e. Governor Peter Shumlin


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intrsts o th Vrmont Womns Fund ndth Srn Foundtion which suortd thiswork, this rorts rticulr ocus on oldrirls nd youn womn lso rcts th strkconomic rlity tht womn, rrdlss o nd ductionl lvls, r nrly twic slikly s mn to liv in ovrty.4 Nrly on intwo ml hih school droouts in Vrmont

will b rsistntly unmloyd s dults, com-rd to only on in our mls. Th choicstht youn womn mk in cdmic courss,in xlorin crr otions, in ursuin hihrduction lmost crtinly dtrmin thirutur rnin otntil.

ullled

PtetalThs sttistics, nd thos tht th govrnorshrd in his inuurl ddrss, rct undr-dvlod individul romis. as th govrnorlso sustd, thy thrtn th Stts co-nomic hlth. Th concrn isnt nw. In , twororts rcommndd swit ction to combt thimct o ridly in workorc by dvlo-in youn tlnt: on rlsd by th Stts Nxtgnrtion Commission, th othr rlsd by

th Vrmont Businss Roundtbl. aroxi-mtly rcnt o th hih school rdutinclss o did not ln to ursu ostscond-ry duction or trinin within six monthso rdution, wrnd th Nxt gnrtion

rort. Ths youn dults r th most liklymmbrs o thir rdutin clss to sty inVrmont. Thy r lso mon th citizns mostlikly to b unmloyd or undrmloydltr in li nd in nd o dditionl trinins oldr dults. 5 Th lon-trm costs cn bconsidrbl: ccordin to Civic entr-riss study, or vry yr-old out o schoolnd work, th utur litim txyr burdn is$,.6

Th ovrwhlmin mjority o th younwomn with whom w sok lt undr-r-rd to mk mny o th dcisions to unctions dults: th bility to build budt, buy cr,or ll out tx rturn. Mny xrssd linunsuortd by dults or rs in mkin choic-s, bi nd smll, tht would sh thir youndult yrs. Thy wr unclr bout thir o-

tions nd vu in dscribin thir intrsts.Nurturin th ull otntil o Vrmontsntiv tlnt rquirs tht w rdoubl ourcommitmnt to wht w know youn olnd: rcticl skills rltd to rsonl nnc

nd livin indndntly; llis who cn rovidsuort nd dvic; xosur to brod rno crrs nd rossionl rol modls; nd o-ortunitis tht immrs nd chlln, t intossion nd tlnt.

W r riht to ocus rt o our currntconvrstion bout duction on dvloinSTeM skills. 7 But Vrmont nds mor thnninrs. It nds individuls who think xn-sivly, solv roblms, r comortbl with m-biuity nd cn work collbortivly. It nds workorc tht hs lrnd to b rsistnt in thc o ilur nd xibl in th wk o chn.Th crtiv orcs tht undrin robustconomy ntrrnuril innovtion, scinticdiscovry, willinnss to tk risks r u-ld by motionl nmnt, th rdom ndsuort to xrimnt nd il, nd clr sns

o uros.8

estblishin n nvironmnt thtvlus nd nurturs ths qulitis nd tht isrsonsiv to ndr must b mon our hihstrioritis. This is th rsonsibility, not only oschools, nd not only o rnts, but lso o us ll.

nearly e tw emale scl drpts Vermt wll be persstetly emplyed asadlts, cmpared t ly e r males. Tecces tat y wme make...almst certaly

determe ter tre ear ptetal.


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1. iLL-EQuiPPEDTo MAnAgEWoRK &

MonEYTh ovrwhlmin mjority o youn womnwith whom w sok xrssd lin ill-quid or th tsks o dulthood writin covr lttr nd rsum, rsrchin crrs,mkin budt nd livin within it, onin bnk ccount nd blncin chckbook,shoin or rocris, buyin cr nd rnt-in n rtmnt, llin out tx or nncilid orms. Indd, thr is widsrd r-mnt tht w r rdutin youn ol

who r unrrd to tckl vn th mostbsic tsks rquird o dulthood. Lrninxrincs durin th hih school yrs hvto hl youn ol ln nd rr or thutur, s uid nd shitin s tht utur myb, ssrts rcnt rort ublishd by thNlli M Foundtion. Yt, lthouh thstsks r crucil or youn ol, thy hvrcivd only modst ttntion rom institu-tions tht work with youth. Tht hs lt younol too much on thir own, without th

uidnc, inormtion, nd rrtory xri-ncs to undrin ood dcisions. 9

Whil th vst mjority o rnts ndtchrs r tht studnts should rdut

hih school hvin lrnd somthin boutrsonl nnc, youn ol too otn lrnths thins much ltr, nd only whn thybcom immditly rlvnt. Thr r just lot o rwork thins I didnt vn rlizI didnt know, commntd on hih schoolsnior in Brr. I ld or txs or th rsttim this yr, nd I didnt undrstnd it t ll.I dont vn know how to writ chck.

Studnts xrssd nxiousnss bouthow much mony thyd nd to covr x-

nss nd inornc bout wht jobs id.Thos w intrviwd sid thy didnt hv clu wht kind o incom thy ndd to brinhom in ordr to hv thir own rtmnt, orbuy ood nd ncssitis. Thy r not lon.O th , youn dults who comltd ntionl survy conductd in by ChrlsSchwb, only % lt wll-rrd to svwisly; % lt wll-rrd to invst monywisly; nd only % lt wll-rrd to livwithin thir mns. 10 In our Vrmont Worksor Womn survy o hih school irls,w skd studnts wht conomic indn-dnc mns to thm nd wht thy nd inordr to chiv sl-sucincy in th utur.

Whil % v nswrs tht indictd n un-drstndin o th conct o sl-sucincy, ull % rsondd in wys tht dmonstrt-d th oosit.

I w r llin short in our rsonsibili-tis to rovid youn ol with th toolsthy nd to budt, sv, nd nvit thirnncil livs, rt o th rson lis in th cttht rsonl nnc is not subjct tstdundr No Child Lt Bhind. Indd, stts,includin Vrmont, hv not dotd K-

nncil litrcy rquirmnts o ny kind.Only our stts rquir hih school studntsto comlt cours in rsonl nnc tordut. Th lck o dlibrt rochto nncil duction mystid mny o thyoun ol with whom w sok. a lot odults ssum w know this stu, tht its com-mon knowld, sid rustrtd Montlirtn. Its not.

W wr lso told tht nncil litrcycourss, i ord, wr otn mrinlizd inhih school curricul, rcivd ithr s ir-rlvnt with rsct to thir immdit livs,or dlivrd too thorticlly. Our rticintsdvoctd or mor xrintil roch tht

i led r taxes r te rst tme ts year, adi ddt derstad t at all. i dt eve kww t wrte a ceck. High school senior, Barre


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simultd th situtions thy would ncoun-tr in rl li. Thy lso dvoctd tht suchcourss should ddrss brod rn o choicsnd chllns thyll soon ncountr, includinth rocss o lookin or work. I think rulrschool nds to rr you mor or ttin job, musd hih school rdut rom

Brttlboro. Thy sy tht school is rrinyou, nd thy tch you th duction rt, butthy dont tch you bout writin rsum orctully oin out in th ld.

Ths studnts oints wr crystllizdin th ointd qustion o on rticint: Ihlth clss is mndtory, why shouldnt [ clssin] othr li skills b mndtory?

at sinicnt ntionl cost, w mrinliz-this kind o rcticl duction, ssumin it tob th domin o rnts or th rsonsibility

o th studnt to lrn on thir own. althouhthr is nrl consnsus tht amricnsshould hv th oortunity to lrn nd xr-cis sound nnc rctics, ssrtd th prsi-dnts advisory Council on Finncil Cbility,thr r numrous indictors tht mny o usr not nncilly cbl. 11 Ths xrts, swll s th irls nd youn womn with whomw sok, r clr: w cn nd must do bttr.

Wat Ca We D?Clrly, w must do mor to dvlo thccity o youn ol to notit thrcticl chllns o youn dulthood rticulrly irls nd womn, who scor lowron nncil litrcy tsts t ll lvls. 12To this nd, w should:

Better Eqp Teacers a survyconductd by th Cntr or FinncilLitrcy t Chmlin Coll in Burlin-ton, VT, indictd drth o rossionldvlomnt curricul or hih schooltchrs in th rcticlitis o rsonl -nnc. W cn ddrss this nd by urthrxndin oortunitis or tchr trin-in t th Cntr. 13

iterate acal lteracyccepts trt te K-12crrclm. Th urncy o this issuhs roducd numbr o trric rsourc-s tht connct ductors nd rnts tonncil duction wbsits, discussionso rltd cdmic stndrds, nd bstrctic. 14 Vrmont hs tchrs t vryrd lvl who r wvin nncil rin-cils into th curriculum; thir work should

b hihlihtd nd shrd.Whthr ord s lctivs or s rquirdcourss, hih school nncil litrcy

clsss should introduc hih school stu-dnts to th rowth nd rnins rojctionso dirnt lds. Thy should dmystiy thtsks tht clrly bfd th youn womnwith whom w sok: nncil id orms,rsum writin, onin chckin c-count, buyin cr. Clsss should involv

simultd or rl oortunitis to ssssnncil otions, mk nncil choics,nd vlut th nncil consquncs.

Blster Scl itatveswt Cmmty Fdad Expertse W cnnot lvschools to shouldr this rsonsibilitylon. Businsss nd nonrot orniz-tions must b ctiv rtnrs in suortintchr trinin, in lndin thir ros-

sionl xrtis to clssrooms, nd inrinorcin nncil litrcy rincils intrschool or summr rorms.


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2. ALLiES &SuPPoRTiVEnETWoRKS in

ShoRT SuPPLYNon o us mks it without llis rs,rnts, tchrs, mntors, nd othrs who b-liv in our tlnt, insir our bst ort, romwhom w cn cct criticism nd dirction.Indd, whn skd bout th ctors most im-ortnt to thir utur succss, % o survyrsondnts idntid suortiv ntworko mily nd rinds. Judin by wht whrd rom thos who ttndd our listninsssions nd nothr conductd rcntly by

th Vrmont Commission on Womn, 15 suchllis r too otn in short suly.

Som who ttndd our listnin sssionscondd tht whil thir rnts miht wnt tohl, thy otn dont know how or dont hvth tim to rovid consistnt uidnc. Whilsom xrssd hvin hd ositiv xri-nc with thir schools uidnc counslor, thmjority lt tht uidnc counslors r otnovrwhlmd, busy, nd only hv tim or i-thr studnts with svr bhviorl/motionlchllns or th hih chivrs. Thos in thmiddl, thy told us, scilly thos who rquit or dont dvoct or thmslvs, cn tlost in th mix. Th uidnc counslor, sid

on, is not oin to com lookin or you; you

hv to sk him/hr out.adults rnt th only llis uon whom

youn womn stk thir utur succss. Indd,youn womn sok mhticlly bout thnd or suort mon ml rs. In sit oth ct tht w skd no qustions on th toic,ll o thos w intrviwd, t vry lvl,lmntd th lck o ositiv nd suortivrltionshis with othr youn womn. Ovrnd ovr in w hrd bout how most o myrinds r uys, bcus irls r just horribl

to ch othr. Thy rortd ossi, bullyin,judmnt, bckstbbin, holdin ruds, nmcllin, comtition ovr boys nd looks, ndhrssmnt s rmnt. Som rticultd notlin s wlkin in th hllwys t schoolbcus o th thrts o violnc rom othryoun womn. Mny xrssd lin juddbout wht thy wor, who thy hun out with,thir ttituds bout school, or thir choicsbout rnthood. Mny rticints rdto b rsind to this ml dynmic. Itnvr, vr, vr os wy, sid on -yr-old Brttlboro rticint. Its thr orvr. Imn, I s rown womn in thir s nd sstill doin it.

I miht hv workd hrdr or hld onto

my lns i my rinds hd suortd m, sid hih school rdut rom Burlinton. But st-tin ols nd workin hrd would hv mntriskin my rindshis. You cnt hv drmswhn your lwys worryin tht vry movwill b judd. Frindshis with boys involvdlss drm, w wr told, but it lso otn mntllowin th ml rinds to tk ovr nd mkdcisions.

By nd lr, rticints told us thy wrlt lon to rsolv thir dirncs by dults

who didnt know how to intrvn or didnt -r to notic. Thr wr lwys so mny kidsor tchrs to look tr, sid on yr-old.Thy didnt hv th tim to sy somthinbout n unkind rmrk or nd out why som-on miht b ust. In th nd, sh sid, llthos littl thins, ll tht mnnss, tks tollon how you think bout yoursl.

all o thos w convnd t th ChittndnRionl Corrctionl Fcility condd thtmny o th womn with whom thy hd bnclosst hd hd ntiv inunc on thirdcision-mkin. Th cost o this dynmic,rticulrly in rison sttin, is sinicntnd strk. I would rlly lik to hv mor

i et al better wt ysrls are jstrrble t eac ter. High school student, Montpelier


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rltionshis with womn, musd on inmt.In this cility, i w cm tothr, w couldmk chnsw dont dvoct or ourslvsbcus wr inst ch othr.

Th mn irl dynmic, i not d-drssd rly on, crris orwrd wll intodulthood. givn th imortnc o rs insuortin or diminishin tn sirtions,th lon-trm ntiv imct cn b si-nicnt, in julin th myrid rsonsibili-tis o job nd rntin, nd in liht o thct tht succss in th twnty-rst cnturyworklc hins in rt uon ons bilityto collbort with othrs.16

As adlts we mst t accept r ds-mss ealty dyamcs am rlsad wme as a atral emale rte passae; ths dynmics rsist ithr b-cus our cultur ncours thm or bcusw hv lookd th othr wy. W cnt justoint th nr t th mdi or th thinsirls do to ch othr, insists Roslind Wis-mn in Qun Bs nd Wnnbs.

W lso hv to oint to ourslvs ornot chllnin th cultur tht crtsths roblms, nd w must, s must ourduhtrs. girls will only rch thir ull

otntil i thyr tuht to b th nts othir own socil chn. as w uid irlsthrouh dolscnc, w hv to cknowl-d it, nm it, nd ct to chn (it). 17

Wat Ca We D?Callee te Beavr as dults,w must b viilnt in ddrssin bhv-iors tht xclud, blittl, or bully. W mustocus s much ttntion on th contxt o conict s w do on th individuls in-

volvd. and i our jobs involv us in work-in with irls or youn womn, w mustbttr qui ourslvs to rconiz, dus,nd hl irls mov throuh conict.

Fster PstvePeer Relatsps girls ndyoun womn must b ivn moroortunitis to work in sinl-sxrous on rojcts tht rquir thmto notit, collbort, nd roblm-

solv. Throuh ths ctivitis thy rmor likly to rcit thir rsctivstrnths, vlu thir dirncs, ndor socil ntworks. Th ntworkswomn dvlo with rinds, nihbors,rltivs, or clssmts cn b criticlin suortin tn mbitions nd inhlin womn jul job, duction,nd childcr rsonsibilitis. Thbility to stblish nd mintin ositivrltionshis is ssntil to succss

t work.

Reac ot as Allesad Rle Mdels as ductors ndrnts w must consciously modlnd drw ositiv ttntion to succssulml rindshis nd businsscollbortions. and s dult womn wmust mk oint o rchin out to co-

workrs, rinds, nd rticulrly to thyoun in our midst to or rsctiv,mntorin, nd suort. In th words omny youn womn w intrviwd, ourstoris, our xmls, or ho ndnw ids bout utur ossibilitis.Whthr ormlly s rt o rormor s somthin w simly do on our own,our suort is rt o th solution.


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3. LiMiTEDEXPoSuRE ToWoRK AnD

CAREERoPTionSTh culturl nd socil contxt o mily ndcommunity sh wht youn ol lrnbout crrs nd inunc thir ultimttrjctoris. 18 all too otn, scilly inrurl communitis whr thr r wr jobsnd thror wr visibl rol modls, thcontxt within which Vrmont youth row ucn srv to constrin mbition, rthr thn

ul it. This is rticulrly tru or younwomn who row u in ovrty. Th socilntworks o womn livin in ovrty tndto b smllr nd mor limitd, strind,homonous, nd insulr thn thos o thirhihr incom countrrts, nots rort by th Crittndn Womns Union, Boston-bsd nonrot ddictd to brk-in th cycl o ovrty. Sinc this ty osocil ntwork is rimrily comrisd o oth-

rs in similr socio-conomic ositions, it isnot likly sourc or crr or ductionloortunitis. 19

Dlibrt nd consistnt xosur torol modls, to hihr duction, nd to

rn o lds nd crr oortunitis is s-sntil i youn ol r to mk inormddcisions bout school nd work. Imortnt,too, is inormtion bout crrs tht rquirost-scondry trinin but not colldilom, ivn th hih cost o most our-yr drs. Indd, i only % o ll youn

ol rdut rom hih school ullyrrd or cdmic coll, s rsrchsusts, % o hih school rduts ndto know bout othr litimt otions ndcrr thwys. 20

Thos in our listnin sssions tlkdin xsrtd trms bout wht dultsssumd thy lrdy knw bout crrths nd oortunitis or bout thmslvs.Thrs th tch cntr whr you cn t

tst o trd nd lrn thins tht cn hlyou in th utur, musd on rticint inBrttlboro, but its not lik thy r mk-in you (try it) so nrollin hs to com romyour own sl-wrnss lik, I know I wnt

to b mchnic so Im oin to tk thuto clssits ll on your own shouldrs.

Indd, how does on know sh wnts tob n uto mchnic i sh hsnt hndld sockt wrnch or crwld undr cr?Th obvious nswr: xosur. In ll o thlistnin sssions w conductd, rticints

tlkd bout wntin to intrct mor withrl ol, to hr thir storis bout whtthy do, nd wht thy l ssiontlybout.

How cn w xct our childrn to mkth most o thir livs i w limit thir ointso rrnc to wht thy lrdy know? Ourchildrn nd to mt succssul rossion-ls who lov wht thy do. Our childrn ndto hr thir storis, touch thir tools nd s

whr thy work. W would ru tht whilimortnt or ll studnts, this xrinc isscilly criticl or irls.

VWW ws oundd by crntr whoblivd tht th bsnc o womn in hr

Teres te tec ceter were y ca et ataste a trade ad lear ts tat ca elpy te tre bt ts t lke tey are maky (try t) s erll as t cme rm

yr w sel-awareessts all yr wslders. Brattleboro participant


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ld wsnt du to lck o intrst it wsbcus womn didnt imin crntryws n otion. Whil scondry schools, col-ls, nd mloyrs hv tkn sts ovrth st two dcds to ncour womnnd irls to considr nontrditionl lds, 21womn ccountd or ovr % o kindrr-

tn tchrs, librrins, dntl ssistnts,nd ristrd nurss in . Thy com-osd lss thn % o ll crntrs, nd %o lctricins or utomotiv tchnicins. 22

at th sm tim, womn hv bn los-in round in lds whr thy hd mdrvious inrods: womns rticition incivil ninrin, or xml, dclind rom % in to just ovr % in . 23 In, womn hld only % o ll rossion-l IT-rltd jobs, n % dro rom hih o

% in . 24Workorc rojctions or show tht

nin o th tn stst-rowin occutionstht rquir t lst bchlors dr willrquir sinicnt scintic or mthmti-cl trinin. Som o th lrst incrsswill b in ninrin- nd comutr-rltdlds lds in which womn r sini-cntly undr-rrsntd. 25

Fw o thos w intrviwd hd ur-sud or rticitd in ny ty o tchnicl

duction, vn thouh vry hih schoolin Vrmont is ssocitd with t lst ontchnicl/crr cntr. Thos who hd t-tndd tch cntr wr concntrtd in

rorms in which womn wr th mjority(i.. cosmtoloy, humn nd hlth sr-vics, dntl ssistin). Thir choics rctstt tch cntr nrollmnt ttrns whryoun womn rrsnt no mor thn % ostudnts in utomotiv, ninrin, nturlrsourcs, or construction trds rorms.

govrnor Shumlin hs soundd th cllor mor ninrs, comutr scintistsnd rormmrs, nd scintists. givn thsiz o our stt, rson susts tht tomt dmnd in ths lds mny rcruitswill hv to b womn. But thrs n vnrtr conomic imrtiv or womn tob rrsntd in ths lds: bttr rotmrin. Svrl rcnt studis, includin Ctlyst rort, hv dmonstrtd thtcomnis in ll industris with th rtst

rcnt o womn in to mnmnthv nncilly outrormd comnis tth othr nd o th sctrum. 26

Incrsin th numbr o womn ntr-in nd styin in th lds o scinc, mth,tchnoloy, nd ninrin will rquir usto do mor thn hold on th door; it willdmnd dlibrt, coordintd, nd sus-tind ort on th rt o rnts, schools,nd mloyrs. It will rquir thm to dcidtht ocusin rticulr ttntion on irls

isnt discrimintory, but is sound conomicrctic.

Wat Ca We D?W must xos youn ol to brodrn o lds, tools, work nvironmnts, ndrossionls. This is scilly tru or irls iw wnt to ncour thm to considr crrsin scinc, mth, th skilld trds, tchnoloyor ninrin. To this nd w cn:

Reac ot as PressalMetrs ech o us must rch out toth nxt nrtion in s mny wys sw know how s clssroom skrs, sorml nd inorml mntors, by hostinvisits t work, by hirin intrns or rovid-in summr jobs. Womn in nontrdition-l lds hv rticulr rsonsibility todo this: thir storis cn on ys; thir

ssion cn insir; nd thir ncour-mnt cn ul dtrmintion nd ho.

D Mre t Ecrae grlsad Y Wme t Prsentradtal Felds Viorouslysuort tchnicl cntrs in thir ortsto ttrct nd rtin studnts in nontr-ditionl rorms. activly suort ordvlo inititivs tht xos irls tvry rd lvl to nontrditionl crrotions nd rol modls. Whn ro-motin rorms in trditionlly mloccutions, includ ims o womnrossionls.


11/17

Enough SAiD page 11

4. ShoRT onEXPERiEnCESThAT EngAgE

AnD MoTiVATETh mjority o th youn womn w intr-viwd hd hld job, most o thm in rtil ors witrsss, bbysittrs, or clnrs. emloy-mnt t this st in li cn rovid vlublxrinc s wll s ychck. Studis o -ctiv crr duction strss th imortnco connctin studnts to ctul work. (I)nth nd, work itsl is th stronst nd mostctiv rorm, ssrts rcnt studyby th anni e. Csy Foundtion on youth

nd work. a continuum o work xrincsrom th tn yrs onwrdbuilds job rdi-nss skills, knowld nd condnc. Thsncomss not just worklc nd nncilskills but lso th brodr sot skills o tkinrsonsibility nd inititiv, workin in tms,ocusin on roblm-solvin, nd lrninhow to contribut. 27

W wholhrtdly r. But by itsl, job wont ncssrily dvnc youn r-

sons thinkin bout his or hr crr. Thisws clrly rctd in wht w hrd in ourlistnin sssions. prticints ound it vryhrd to tlk bout crrs nd duction innythin but imrcis trms. althouh thy

could list lds in which thy wr intrst-d, or crtictions or rnticshis thtsmd intriuin, w could sy vry muchbout why thy wr o intrst. Most couldnot rticult wht thy ultimtly wntdrom crr. Ovrll, it ws hrd to k thdiscussion ocusd on th toic.

Wv trid to undrstnd why thsyoun womn, who could b so rticult

on mny ronts, struld with this rt oth convrstion. Thir vunss rctsmor thn lck o xosur. W bliv lsotht it rcts limitd xrinc in linwht sycholoist Mihly Csikszntmihlyi,who studis crtivity nd innovtion, cllsow momnts in work or ly in which rsons body or mind is strtchd to itslimits in voluntry ort to ccomlishsomthin dicult or worthwhil. 28

Idlly, our childrn will choos work thtts into both tlnt nd ssion, nd con-ncts thm to mor thn wkly ychck.John Dwy rud tht this is criticl to hu-mn hinss. W would lso ru tht it is

ndd to nsur stts conomic vitlity.Th crtiv orcs tht driv robust con-omy r uld by motionl nmnt,n xrinc o utonomy, nd wht writrDnil pink clls rit. 29

encourin momnts tht n shouldb our rimry ol s ductors nd rnts.Thy rm our curiosity nd iv li to in-novtion. Thy mboldn us to tk risks thtr t th hrt o discovry. and by ninour tlnt nd intrsts, thy insir our bstort. and our bst ort is wht is dmnddo our smll nd wondrul stt in comti-tiv nd mrcuril conomy.

Wat Ca We D?W must or youn ol multil oor-tunitis to xrinc ow nd know wht

it ls lik to b nd in n ctivity thtts into rsonl tlnt nd ssion. In nconomy tht shits s quickly s ths wordsr writtn, our objctiv should not b tht child idntiy rly with rticulr crr or

i ddt t my way scl t tryew ts r t re t wat makes me tck.i ever really cected t mc ayt.

High school graduate, Burlington


12/17

Enough SAiD page 12

ld, but tht sh xrincs, t n lmostmtbolic lvl, th thrill o connction. Wcn ncour this by:

Seek ter iptYoun ol thirst to rticit inorts whr thir rticition mt-

trs. Kurt Hhn, on o th oundrs ooutdoor xrintil duction, sid:

Thr r thr wys o tryin to winth youn. Thr is rsusion, thris comulsion, nd thr is ttrction.You cn rch t thm; tht is hookwithout worm. You cn sy you mustvoluntr. Tht is th dvil. Or you cntll thm, you r ndd. Tht hrdlyvr ils. 30

W must crt nw wys to iv tnsnd youn dults mninul rol inidntiyin or ddrssin school or com-munity issus in which thy hv stknd intrst. W must nd nw wys orthm to srv on committs or bords,rticit in community-bsd hiln-throy, or bcom involvd in dvoccyor ublic olicy.

Celebrat Wrk as aMeas Sel-Expressad a Srce MeaI w only tlk bout voction in conomictrms nticitd slry nd bnts, r-dictd rowth industris, crr trjctoris w shortchn its otntil to rovid

lso d uros nd connction.

W must mk rctic o xosin younol to th work nd livs o individulswho lov wht thy do. Mtin such olin rson cn insir. Thir storis, whichr nrly lwys unctutd by riods ouncrtinty or conusion, rovid roo thtcrrs tk thir sh ovr tim, throuhrsvrnc nd rction.

Th titl othis rort,

Enough Said,rcts th ct tht

much o wht it sysisnt nw. W hv hrd

ths thms bor throuh our own x-

rincs, throuh our childrns xrincsnd rom wht w hv rd in th mdi. Itrcts our sns tht it is tim to sto tlk-in nd tk ction.

Th ultimt vlu o this rort lis in itsbility to romt action. Som o th rcom-mndtions dmnd strtic invstmnts inrormmin or chns in olicy or rioritis.Mny cost nothin nd rquir only our stdynd rm rsolv s rnts, tchrs, olicymkrs, businss ldrs, community bsdorniztions nd nihbors to nurtur th

otntil in our midst.

Th rst st is or ch o us to tll our ownstory bout our work nd intrsts, bout th r-rts or unnticitd joys tht hv unctutdour work livs. Our storis cn romt younwomn to think dirntly or to bolstr thirrsolv whn tinc wrs thin. Story tllinis n ct o communion; it cn or rltion-shis tht sustin our nris nd lvn ourrsctiv.

In th comin months, Vrmont Works or Wom-n nd th Vrmont Womns Fund will lunchn inititiv wr cllin Te 50% Slt.Womn now rovid lmost % o th ntionslbor nd % o n vr milys incom.addrssin womns ovrty isnt just womensissu its n conomic on. Vrmont will rchits ull otntil only whn womn nd irls cnliv u to thirs.

T d t mreabt wyoucn b rt o Te 50% Slt, contctTiny Bluml, VWWs excutiv Dirctor,t ... Or snd n mil to us [email protected].

Call TAct


13/17

Enough SAiD page 13

1govrnor ptr Shumlin, Inuurl ddrss, Jnury , .

2Wlsh, Molly, Vrmont rdution rts r hih but studnts my b lckin in bsic

cdmic skills, Burlington Free Press, aril , .

3Kids Count, Dcmbr , . htt://www.voicsorvtkids.or/unmloyd-youth-

sors-in-vt-nd-ntionwid/

4Th Sttus o Womn nd girls in Vrmont, Vrmont Commission on Womn, .

5In ddition, th sttwid lonitudinl (our-yr) droout rt ws roximtly

rcnt or th hih school rdutin clss o . Furthrmor, roximtly .

rcnt o Vrmont dults who r or oldr do not hv bchlors dr. htt://du-ction.vrmont.ov.

6Blld, C.R., Lvin, H.M.,& Rosn, R. Theeconomic value o opportunity youth . Wsh-inton, DC: Civic entrriss, Jnury .

7 STeM is n bbrvition usd to dnot th lds o scinc, tchnoloy, ninrin,nd mth.

8pink, Dnil, Drive: the Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us, .

9Hlrn, R.. It takes a whole society: Opening up the learning landscape in the highschool years. Quincy, Ma: Th Nlli M eduction Foundtion. Fbrury .

10Chrls Schwb. Young Adults & Money Survey.

11 Interim Report, prsidnts advisory Council on Finncil Cbility, Jnury , .

12 Fonsc, R., Mulln, K., Zmrrow, g., nd Zissimooulos, J., What explains thegender gap in nancial literacy?, RaND workin r, .

13 Th Cntr or Finncil Litrcy t Chmlin Coll ws oundd to incrsnncil litrcy in clssrooms cross our ntion, nsur coll studnts rdutwith th skills to mk sound dcisions bout sndin, crdit nd invstmnts, ndhl dults nvit dicult nncil situtions. For th st two yrs, it hs ord

nncil litrcy trinin institut or middl nd hih school tchrs rom Vrmontsurvisory unions throuhout th stt.

14On such wbsit is mintind by Jum$trt (www.jumstrt.or).

15 Summry nots rom th mtin. Th Vrmont Commission on Womn conductd listnin sssion involvin community mmbrs, includin youn womn in th rou o intrst to this rort, in Bnninton on Wdnsdy, Stmbr th. Its uros:to iv Vrmontrs in th rion n oortunity to sk bout th chllns nd condi-tions xrincd by youn womn, nd th systms tht cn rovid thm with suort.

16 In writin bout th skills ndd or th st cntury conomy, th Cntr or public

eduction rorts tht mloyrs consistntly rnk collbortion on thir list o musthv comtncisintrrsonl skills tht iv on th owr to intrct ctivlywith othrs, includin th bility to communict ctivly, both orlly nd in writin,wto rlt wll to othrs nd coort with thm, to notit nd mn conicts, ndto ld throuh rsusion. ( htt://www.cntrorublicduction.or/Lrn-about/st-Cntury).

17Wismn, R. Queen Bees and Wannabees. Nw York: Thr Rivrs prss. .

18 Frry, N., Factors Infuencing Career Choices o Adolescents and Young Adults in RuralPennsylvania. Jun .

19 Low, J., Social Networks as an Anti-Poverty Strategy. Crittndn Womns Union. .

20Rothstin, R.,A blueprint that needs more work. Wshinton, DC: economic policyInstitut. Mrch .

EnDnoTES


14/17

Enough SAiD page 14

EnDnoTES continued

21as dnd by th US Drtmnt o Lbor, nontrditionl lds r thos in whichwomn comos lss thn % o th lbor orc.

22U.S. Drtmnt o Lbor, Womns Buru (htt://www.dol.ov/wb/ctshts/non-tr.htm).

23gillibrnd, K., Womens economic empowerment summit: Facts on the status o women

in the economy, 2011.

24Ntionl Cntr or Womn nd Inormtion Tchnoloy, Women in IT: The Facts, .

25Hill, C., Corbtt, C., nd St. Ros, a., Why So Few? Women in Scien ce, Technology, Engi-neering, and Math, amricn assocition o Univrsity Womn, .

26BottomLine: Connecting Corporate Perormance and Gender Diversity, Ctlyst, .(htt://www.ctlyst.or/knowld/bottom-lin-connctin-corort-rormnc-nd-ndr-divrsity).

27Youth and Work: Restoring teen and young adult c onnections to opportunity, anni e.Csy Foundtion, .

28Csikszntmihlyi, Mihly, Flow: the Psychology o Optimal Experience . Nw York:Hrr nd Row, .

29pink, Dnil, Drive: the Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us, .

30 htt://www.wildrdom.com/Hhn.htm (Kurt Hhn ublishd littl o h is writin; mnyo his quots r tkn rom his schs.)

Vermt Wrks r Wme wld lke t recze ad tak te llwr ter elp develp r revew earler drats ts reprt:nade Bdbll, Cary Brw, Start Cmstck-gay, Katy Js, CatereKalkste, Barbara Mrpy, Mark Redmd, Marybet Redmd, adRbert Rsae.


15/17

Enough SAiD page 15

ABouT ThELiSTEningSESSionSIn th srin nd ll o Vrmont Worksor Womn conductd nin Listnin Sssionsin Vrmont with youn womn, s -.

Th sssions hd two ols:

1.To rovid n oortunity or younwomn to voic thir nds, concrns,hos, nd drms s thy rlt to work,crr xlortion, nd conomic indn-dnc; nd2.To thr inormtion bout th su-orts nd oortunitis tht youn womnr or r not rcivin nd to lrn morbout wht youn womn nd in ordrto mov towrd ositiv work xrincsnd conomic indndnc.

In ch loction w rtnrd with locl,community-bsd ncy tht ssistd uswith rcruitmnt nd loistics nd roviddbckround nd dmorhic inormtion onsssion rticints.

Lste SessCmmty PartersBarre

VT Wrks r Wmes YtAdvsry Ccl

BrattlebrBrattlebr Area Yt Servces

BrltTe Ld Ceter

MrrsvlleLear Teter Prram

RtladRtlad Bys ad grls Clb

St. AlbasBFA St. Albas h Scl

St. Jsbrynrteast Kdm Yt Servces

MtpelerMtpeler h Scl

S. BrltCmmty h Scl VT Cttede Real Crrectal

Faclty

Lste SessDesech Listnin Sssion lstd roximtlyon hour nd ws cilittd by two Vrmont

Works or Womn st mmbrs. Th Listn-in Sssions bn with n xlntion o thols or th sssion nd th crtion o roundruls to b ollowd durin th dilou. Th

convrstion ws uidd by sris o on-ndd qustions tht wr dsind s srinbord or discussion. Th convrstionswr rcordd. additionlly, uon rrivl, chrticint comltd bri r survy thtskd or inormtion bout work nd duc-tionl sirtions nd dmorhic dt riorto th strt o th listnin sssion.

Partcpatsa totl o youn womn ttndd thssssions, rrsntin th ollowin towns:

Waterville

Bakersfield

Burlington

Richmond

Milton

Barre / Graniteville

Rutland/Fair Haven

Bennington

Hardwick/ East Hardwick

St. Johnsbury

Eden Mills

Johnson

JeersonvilleHyde Park

Braintree

Middlebury

Montpelier

Morrisville

Underhill

Brattleboro

West DoverBrookline

Lyndonville

Sutton

St. Albans


16/17

Enough SAiD page 16

Svnty-two rcnt o rticints wrbtwn th s o nd . Th othr rcnt wr btwn th s o nd .Sixty-thr idntid s whit/Cucsin;iht idntid s o-color. Nrly llrticints cm rom milis o limitdnncil mns. Mny idntid thmslvss hvin xrincd vrity o risk

ctors, includin homlssnss, ovrty,rly rnthood, criminl rcord, nd/or history o trum/bus.

Ter edcatal stats vared:

As dd ter lv stats:

AmTe QestsWe AskedWht r som o your hos bout thutur in trms o work, job, or duction?Wht r som o your concrns bout thutur in trms o work, job, or duction?Wht dos th trm conomicindndnc mn to you?Wht do you nd (sciclly) in ordrto chiv conomic indndnc in th

utur?

Who r th ol tht suort you?Wht dos your school do wll to suortyou?Who do you tlk to bout your lnsor th utur?

Who hls you/how do you ln nd

rr or your utur?

W rcntly survyd irls/younwomn in VT, skin thm th mostcriticl lmnt in hlin thm xlorutur crr otions durin hih schools wll s tr rdution. Thy sid jobskills nd trinin, suortiv ntworko mily nd rinds, nd intrnshis ndrnticshis. Do you r or not?

Wht kinds o intrnshis nd rntic-shis could b hlul to you in dtrmin-in utur crr/thwy?

W skd qustion bout how houlol l bout thir utur in our oninsurvy. W noticd tht btwn th s o nd , th lvls o houlnss dcrssinicntly. Why miht this b so?

How would you roch invstitin

nw nd unmilir work/crr/crrossibility?

I you, or xml, wnt to ursu uturjob/crr in cookin, lw norcmnt,

CompletedHigh School10%

Currentlyin a GEDcompletionprogram15%

Dropped Out ofHigh School3%

Currently inHigh School72%

Incarceratedat Prison13%

Alone orwith Partner14%

In aResidentialFacility7%

InFoster Care8% With

Mother Only13%

With

Two Parents45%


17/17

Enough SAiD page 17

hysicl thry, nvironmntl scinc,tc., r you clr bout th nxt sts yound to tk to xlor thos otntilrs?

Hv you vr considrd bin nntrrnur nd strtin your ownbusinss? Why or why not?

Sme te abve qests werere-ramed r wme sed at teCttede Real CrrectalFaclty t refect te realtes tercrcmstaces, ad als clded:

Could n dult ml mntor b hlulnd vlubl to you?

I you lrdy hv n dult ml mntor,wht hs bn vlubl (nd not sovlubl) bout this rltionshi?

Whn you lv CRCF, do you know howto rocd in buildin hlthy ntworko rinds/suortrs?

32A Malletts Bay Avenue, Winooski, VT 05404

Phone: 802.655.8900 Toll Free: 800.639.1472

www.vtwrksrwme.cm

Building Confdence Teaching Skills Changing Lives

Please j s. Teter, we ca make Vermt Wrk r all Wme!

VERMonT WoRKS FoR WoMEnSinc , Vrmont Works or Womn hs ord oortunitis or womn nd irls to discrnthir otntil nd xlor thir intrsts; to build condnc throuh mntorin, cochin,nd mbrcin nw chllns; to dvlo skills throuh hnds-on trinin; nd to nvitth otn dicult trnsition hom rom rison. ech yr, our rorms nroll clos to ,womn nd irls, s -, rom divrs bckrounds, livin in Vrmont communitis.

Stt nd ntionl orniztions mon thm th US Drtmnt o Housin nd UrbnDvlomnt, th Ntionl Trnsitionl Jobs Ntwork, KyBnk, th Vrmont Housin ndConsrvtion Bord, Th Lk Chmlin Rionl Chmbr o Commrc nd th JohnMrck Fund hv rconizd VWW s ldr in innovtiv rorm dvlomnt. Fourrorms hv bn turd in ntionl ublictions; two hv bn rlictd in othr stts.

enough said: young women talk about school, work, and becoming adults

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