Women's Issues Practice Tools

Adolescence marks a time of rapid and intense emotional and physical changes. There is an increased value placed on peer acceptance and approval, and a heightened attention to external influences and social messages about cultural norms. Body image and related self-concept emerge as significant factors associated with health and well-being during this developmental phase, as youths begin to focus more on their physical appearance.

The phenomenon of youth violence in America has become a headlining issue. The onslaught of recent school shootings seized the media and effectively catapulted this most important and pressing topic into the mainstream rank order of national and public health priorities. These incidents have brought long overdue and well-deserved attention and analysis to the complexity of concerns and issues affecting teenagers that often manifest themselves in violent and aggressive acts toward others.

A higher percentage of women have low pay, non-union part-time employment that generates a much lower income than do their male counterparts. As a result, women are twice as likely as men to be under insured. Women earn only 71 cents for each dollar a man earns.