Why Girls-Only Spaces Still Matter: Safe, Strong, and Full of Possibility
In a world reshaped by a global pandemic, movements for racial justice, and a growing understanding of gender identity, the idea of girls-only spaces has never been more relevant—or more necessary.
While society has made strides in advancing gender equity, young people who identify as girls still navigate complex intersections of sexism, racism, poverty, ableism, and other systemic inequities. For many, girls-only spaces remain a sanctuary: places to develop confidence, leadership, and community away from the pressures and expectations that so often limit them.
Today, "girl" is not a monolith. We recognize the full spectrum of girlhood to include cisgender girls, transgender girls, and nonbinary youth who are supported in girl-positive environments. Girls-only spaces, when intentionally designed, recognize and celebrate this. Spaces like these are affirming and transformational.
Friendship…
is foundational to belonging, risk-taking, and the kind of trust that helps girls grow into their fullest selves.
Why Girls-Only Spaces Still Matter
Girls continue to experience disproportionate rates of gender-based violence, online harassment, mental health challenges, and underrepresentation in leadership and STEM fields. In 2023, the CDC reported that nearly 1 in 3 teen girls seriously considered attempting suicide—the highest level in a decade. These rates are even higher among LGBTQ+ youth, and girls of color continue to face academic barriers, disproportionate discipline, and limited access to health care and economic opportunity.
For example, Black girls are suspended at rates six times higher than white girls, and Latina girls remain underrepresented in STEM education and careers. Transgender girls, too, face elevated risks of bullying, exclusion from sports, and limited affirming health care. These inequities don’t happen in isolation—they reflect structural patterns that follow girls into adulthood.
Pro-girl spaces counteract these challenges by centering the unique strengths, identities, and needs of girls. These environments are grounded in safety, trust, belonging, and opportunity. They are not just reactive—they are generative. They help girls imagine who they can become.
What Makes a Space Pro-Girl?
A pro-girl environment is more than just a room full of girls. It's a setting designed with and for them. The YWCA character development framework emphasizes the power of developmental relationships—connections that are safe, supportive, and embedded in equity. Girls thrive in spaces that:
Affirm identity by honoring their lived experiences, cultures, and gender expressions
Build agency through leadership opportunities, voice, and decision-making power
Cultivate character by supporting the development of empathy, resilience, curiosity, and integrity
Foster belonging through peer and mentor relationships rooted in trust
These principles are not just ideals—they are grounded in research. According to a 2022 meta-analysis in Educational Review, girls in single-sex environments report stronger academic confidence, fewer behavioral distractions, and more supportive peer cultures. Another study from Girls on the Run found that girls in their programs experienced significant increases in confidence and connection, particularly among those who started with lower self-esteem.
Examples of Innovation in Girls-Only Programming
A national nonprofit on a mission to close the gender gap in tech, Girls Who Code builds sisterhood alongside STEM skills. Their clubs offer girls a place to create, take risks, and support each other in a field where they are often underrepresented. Their work is not just about learning to code—it's about redefining what leadership and brilliance look like in tech.
This initiative reimagines STEM learning to include equity-first, gender-expansive programming that centers underrepresented youth. Through partnerships with afterschool networks, Moonshot supports girls in exploring engineering and innovation while challenging stereotypes. It lifts up girls as creators, not just consumers, of technology.
3. Junior Roller Derby Leagues
In cities across the U.S., junior roller derby programs are creating bold, body-positive spaces for girls. These teams foster grit, teamwork, and self-expression through a sport that embraces toughness and joy. For many participants, roller derby is the first place they feel fully themselves.
4. The International Coalition of Girls’ Schools
The International Coalition of Girls’ Schools represents a network of schools committed to girls-only education, fostering environments that elevate student voice, academic curiosity, and leadership. These schools emphasize the role of community and challenge-based learning in character development, with research showing their graduates are more likely to pursue leadership roles and STEM degrees.
Hardy Girls Healthy Women, based in Maine, takes a bold approach to youth-led activism and critical thinking. Their Girls Advisory Board and Girls Rock! Conferences give girls the tools to deconstruct stereotypes, speak out against injustice, and create change in their schools and communities. With a strong focus on media literacy, bodily autonomy, and girl-driven solutions, Hardy Girls is redefining what it means to grow up resilient and powerful.
Character Development in Girl-Positive Spaces
Girls-only spaces support character development not by prescribing who girls should be, but by nurturing who they already are. Our team recently developed a character development framework for the YWCA national network, and through it we show how character is shaped through consistent opportunities to practice values like courage, compassion, and justice. This cannot happen without the space to take healthy risks, to fail safely, to speak honestly, and to build resilience in community.
Leadership opportunities within girls-only spaces help counteract widespread gendered expectations. In co-ed settings, girls are often passed over for leadership roles. But in girls-only spaces, every leadership position is held by a girl—a powerful message about who gets to lead. Research confirms that exposure to diverse female role models builds leadership self-perception and civic engagement.
The integration of physical movement and socioemotional learning—like in Girls on the Run or Girls Athletic Leadership Schools—also supports whole-person growth. These programs report improved emotional regulation, connection to peers, and readiness to lead. When girls lead, mentor each other, and take on responsibility in environments that value their voice, they grow into their values. They develop not only confidence but clarity—about what they stand for and how they want to contribute to the world.
From Empowerment to Equity
Girls-only spaces are not a retreat from the real world—they are a foundation for full participation in it. In mixed-gender settings, girls often have to fight to be heard. In girls-only spaces, they practice leading, shaping, and transforming. These are not soft skills. They are systems skills. And we need them now more than ever.
Yet these programs are still underfunded and undervalued. We must invest in the environments that let girls thrive on their own terms.
Conclusion
It is time to recognize girlhood as a position of strength, not struggle. Girls-only, pro-girl spaces have always offered more than safety—they offer possibility. As we continue to build a more just and inclusive world, these environments remain essential. They are where tomorrow's leaders grow bold, together.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023). Youth Risk Behavior Survey. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm
Educational Review (2022). Effects of single-sex schooling on girls’ confidence and academic motivation.
Girls on the Run (2019). Program Evaluation Summary. https://www.girlsontherun.org/research/
YWCA USA (2025). Character In Action Framework.
Me and my camp BFF, friends now for over 30 years!
Dr. Cristin Rollins is a nationally-recognized and award-winning PYD research and evaluation professional specializing in character development in youth serving organizations. Dr. Rollins is the President of Statement House, woman-owned planning, evaluation, and coaching firm specializing in community, educational, and afterschool programs.
Find out more at www.statementhouse.net