Yet another encouraging sign of change: the 2008 Presidential election has resulted in a spike of confidence among young women, according to a study of 13-17 year olds done by the Girl Scout Research Foundation.

The study, which included 3,284 online interviews from young women, showed that "fifty percent believe they have more confidence and that they can reach their goals. Fifty-five percent feel more confident voicing their opinions." The inclusion of two high-profile female candidates, Hillary Clinton, and yes, Sarah Palin, is most likely the cause for the increase in confidence, according to Susan McClure, CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore: "For the first time, we saw two women play a pivotal role in a presidential election. This has inspired an entire generation of girls and will continue to do so for years to come."[Feminist.Org]

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