Healthy Identity Formation : Young Women and Youth Programs

Abstract

Female adolescents today attempt to form their identities in the face of violence, oppression, and a culture that promotes the sexual victimization of women. Without organizations committed to assisting girls in the process of developing healthy identities, young women in the United States will suffer. This paper characterizes quality youth programs as those that understand the unique needs of female adolescents and actively aim to understand and serve this population. Relating scholarly works on these topics to her own experiences working with Girls Incorporated at the YWCA of West Central Michigan, the author argues for the necessity of organizations that specifically seek to guide young women towards healthy identity formation.