For many Americans, the most wonderful time of the year comes not during the holiday season, but rather when young Girl Scouts, dressed in their famous bright green sashes, come skipping down walkways to deliver their annual and limited treasures of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs.

However, the purpose of the manufacturer of these highly anticipated treats is often forgotten. The Girls Scouts of America, an organization that has been striving to empower young women since 1912, recently found that the girls currently enrolled in their programs are no longer convinced that, in their future endeavors, the sky’s the limit.

The Girl Scouts recently released a poll that found an astonishing 74 percent of respondents believed that — if they pursued a career in politics — they would have to work harder to be taken as seriously as men. The findings insinuate that the political atmosphere in the U.S. is very much dominated by the male population.

“Girls can’t be what they can’t see,” said Girl Scouts chief executive Anna Maria Chávez in an interview with the Washington Post, regarding the poll and the apparent disproportion of female leaders in American politics.

The Girl Scouts are currently modernizing their programs, shifting away from their traditional goals and activities.

“We are working to make our programs relevant and interesting for girls,” Chávez said.

The poll, which surveyed girls who were currently members of a troop, between the ages of 11 and 17, is shocking. What is even more devastating about the findings is that even as middle school students, young girls are aware of the glaringly obvious prejudices that women face in the workforce.
From the issue of equal pay, to disproportionate numbers of men and women in fields such as business, technology, and politics, young girls today are faced with a slew of factors concerning gender when determining a future career path for themselves. A career should be a lifelong commitment to a field that a person is passionate about, and gender should play no part in determining their success.

As a former Girl Scout, I understand first-hand the importance of the involvement and encouragement that the Girl Scouts offer to young women. Being a member, earning badges, and participating in various service products instilled in me and my fellow troop members that even though we were young, we could make a difference. The confidence I built throughout the years I spent the Girl Scouts community was priceless.

Along with fostering a positive social environment to bond with other girls in the same age group, Girls Scouts is an important way to begin to take on leadership roles and learn valuable skills that can be applied later on in life.

Although there is no doubt that women have made significant progress over the past few decades, this poll is yet another indication that we still have a long way to go before we can declare the successful establishment of gender equality in our society. Despite a sharp drop in their current enrollment, it’s imperative that the Girl Scouts continue to attract young women and volunteers.

By providing a way to instill in these girls the skills and confidence they need to pursue the careers they desire, even though many may be perceived as currently being dominated by men,  we can ensure that a younger of generation of girls will grow up ready to combat the issue of gender inequality.