Here are selected websites that focus on girls' and/or young women's interests and resources.   A red asterisk () indicates a site designed for girls and/or young women, rather than a site for adults about girls/young women.   Also of interest may be the extensive news coverage of women/girls and information technology available at the Center for Women and Information Technology.

The Adventures of Josie True

(A free, NSF-sponsored adventure game for girls, created by Mary Flanagan. The game's hero is a Chinese-American girl named Josie True, who becomes involved in intrigue across time and space as she tries to find her inventor-turned-teacher, Ms. Trombone. The electronically sophisticated game is probably best enjoyed on a very fast Internet connection. The site also includes articles about girls and computer games and an account of updates to the game.)

Age-Defined Email Lists for Women and Girls

(This section of Gender-Related Electronic Forums describes email lists designed for women and girls of a specific age, including a number of lists for girls and young women.)

Alice: Learn to Program Interactive 3D Graphics

(Alice is designed to make computer programming more accessible and appealing and to "provide the best possible first exposure to programming for students ranging from middle schoolers to college students." Middle-school girls are one specific group to whom Alice is intended to appeal. The site includes a free download of Alice, plus online forums, demonstration videos, and more.)

Beyond Nancy Drew

(An annotated listing of books for girls written in the last 200 years. The books reflect the changing roles that were/are considered proper for girls. Roughly chronological, the listing is organized into subject headings such as A Christian Upbringing, Etiquette, Nurses, A Christian Upbringing, Girl Detectives, Tomboys and Working Girls, Heroines, and more. Almost all the books come from Duke University's Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collection Library.)

Body Image and Young Girls: Resources from WMST-L

(Jeannie Ludlow sent a request to WMST-L, the academic women's studies email list, asking for suggested books, videos, and other resources to encourage more positive body image among young girls. She then posted the responses she received. Here's her posting of responses.)

Books for Young Women and Girls

(Annotated listing provided by the Center for Women and Work at the U. of Massachusetts, Lowell.)

Braincake

(Aimed at middle school girls, this web site promotes math and science by creating an online community where girls can interact with their peers about current science topics, solve science mysteries, and discuss careers with young women scientists and engineers. The site offers chat rooms, games, contests with cash prizes, mentoring programs, scholarship resources, and more.)

Brave Girls and Strong Women Bookstore

(Annotated lists of books to empower girls and young women, interviews with authors of some of these books, an annotated list of books for adults about girls' loss of self esteem and what can be done to reverse this, links to other girls' and educational gender equity sites, and more.)

Career Options for Women/Choix de Carrières Pour les Femmes

(This Canadian website offers 13 half-hour programs highlighting women working in jobs traditionally held by men, primarily in trades and technology. Clicking on Profiles will reveal numerous categories, such as Information Technology, Robotics and Automation, Video Games, Gaming, and Biotechnology. Older girls/young women may find the site helpful. Disponible aussi en français.)

Center for Young Women's Health

(Sponsored by Boston's Children's Hospital, this site provides bilingual [English/Spanish] information about eating disorders, nutrition, menstruation, gynecological exams, endometriosis, cancer, sexuality, birth control options, STDs, smoking, breast health, body piercing, emotional health, and more, as well as a guide to lesbian health for teens.)

Changing Girls' Attitudes Toward Computers

(Karen Ellis's rich resource, Educational CyberPlayGround, has devoted a special section to resources designed to get girls excited about computers and information technology. Here you'll find information about women who were/are computer pioneers; projects aimed at interesting girls in technology; links to sites dealing with the gender divide and the digital divide; gender equity resources; and links to "best online resources for women and minorities in science and tech.")

Computer Girl

(Started by Stanford undergraduate Amy Wu, the Computer Girl site is designed "to bridge the gap between young women in high school and the computer world." It offers abundant resources: web sites, articles, role models, statistics, job categories, summer camp listings, and more. It also provides a place where students can ask questions about the field of computer science [e.g., the job market, salaries, finding mentors, scholarships, work/life balance, etc.].)

Computers and the Internet: Listening to Girls' Voices

(Dorothy Ellen Wilcox's master's paper at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, deals with the experience of 15 sixth grade girls who worked on Internet projects in 1995. Wilcox concludes that "instead of socializing adolescent girls toward docility, non-hierarchical technology like the Internet may provide a discourse for development of higher-level cognitive skills and the ability to unmask inequities in power and politics.")

The Cool Page for Queer Teens

(Useful information and links for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender young people. Topics include how to know who you are, what it means to be gay, coming out, problems at home or school, someone to talk to, safe sex, feeling good about religion, and more resources. Created by Scott Bidstrup, an adult gay male.)

Cybergrrl.com

(This site, founded by Aliza "Cybergrrl" Sherman but no longer run by her, is informative and entertaining. Articles, advice, and links to sites on many women-related topics. Will probably appeal to teens and young women, as well as older women.)

Dads and Daughters

(The DADs organization and website provide "tools to strengthen father-daughter relationships and to transform the pervasive cultural messages that value daughters more for how they look than for who they are." Resources include articles, surveys, self-help ideas, book recommendations, media watch, research information, and links to related sites.)

Daughters of Eve: Cryptographs

(Each day, the site posts a different quotation from a noteworthy woman in the arts, history, etc. The quotation is presented as a cryptograph--a puzzle of letter substitution accompanied by a portrait of the woman whose quotation is being featured. Collections of cryptographs are for sale by mail, but the daily cryptograph and the answer to the previous day's puzzle are free.)

Digital Divide

(This site highlights four major gaps in technology access and use: schools, gender, race, and the workplace. Resources include interviews, annotated links to related sites, downloadable brochures and guides, and videocassettes of the related PBS television series of the same name.)

Doing Gender

(Alison Phipps has created a site that provides annotated links to science and technology initiatives for girls and women, with separate sections for initiatives in Canada, in Europe, and in the United States. She also provides a brief summary of and a questionnaire for her Ph.D. research project entitled "Gender, Science, Technology and Empowerment: Educating Girls and Women for Globalising Economies." [Note: Site is apparently undergoing re-construction])

Donna Woodka's WWW Home Page

(Much of the site covers the same ground as Woodka's not yet published book, The Internet for Girls: Connecting Girls With Math, Science and Technology. Online topics/resources include encouraging girls in math and science; teaching and parenting with the Internet; online mentors and peer groups; connecting girls around the world; the Internet for girrrls themselves; Internet safety and netiquette; WWW resources; an annotated equity in education bibliography; and more.)

Douglass Project for Rutgers Women in Math, Science, and Engineering

(Extensive program designed to encourage pre-college and college women to study math, science, and engineering.)

Dream/Girl Magazine

(Online version of a print magazine aimed at girls 10-15 who are interested in the arts. The online version includes features/sections on art, photography, music, writiing, comics and cartooning, book reviews, and more.)

Education Reform Networks

(Portals designed to provide educators and others with high-quality information on effective practices and resources in educational reform. Among the portals are "Equity" [with sections devoted to "gender and sex" and to"race/multicultural"], "Digital Equity," and "Mathematics Education.")

Effect of Computers on the Gender Gap in Education

(This site, created by several Stanford University undergraduates, explores three related topics: "the current state of gender differences in education, the current state of gender differences in computing, and the effect of computers in the classroom," as well as how these issues interrelate.)

EGEMS: Electronic Games for Education in Math and Science

(Canadian project to make math and science fun for young people age 9-14. Though not aimed only at girls, the project gives considerable attention to gender, and includes some games, such as Phoenix Quest, of particular appeal to girls. Though the project is now inactive, the site offers more than two dozen technical reports, papers, and other documents.)

EngineerGirl

(Web site designed to encourage girls' interest in engineering. The site includes information about what engineers do, great achievements in engineering, career facts, puzzles and games, the opportunity to ask questions of engineers, and links to related sites. Sponsored by the National Academy of Engineering.)

Expanding Your Horizons

(Conferences "designed to nurture girls' interest in science and math courses and to encourage them to consider science and math based career options." The site lists conferences by state, providing links when possible. The site also includes a timeline of some accomplished women in science, role models, movies, and chat. )

Expect the Best from a Girl: That's What You'll Get

(This site from the Women's College Coalition features suggestions for parents, information about women and education and work, and resources to help girls fulfill their potential. Includes extensive information about summer programs for girls.)

Explore Career Pathways

(A Canadian site designed to help girls 8-18 explore careers in science and technology. Created by a student, the site profiles six women.)

Exploring Gender and Technology

("This site presents current research, perspectives, and innovative approaches to the gender gap in technology collected from secondary research." It offers statistics, case studies, a video, online discussion, an annotated bibliography, and annotated links for educators and for girls.)

Eyes to the Future: Middle School Girls Envisioning Science

(Information about a project that involves e-mentoring between middle school girls and high school girls who have stayed in science and technology, as well as with women who are professionals in science and technology. The middle school girls also create an online magazine to tell their peers about science and technology. )

FeMiNa: Girls

(Femina is a search engine for women-related sites. This link is to a section devoted to sites of particular interest to girls.)

FeministCampus.org

(Web site sponsored by the Feminist Majority to provide tools and resources students need to become involved in pro-choice activism on campus. Claims to be "the world's largest pro-choice campus network." Includes news, calendar of events, job/internship opportunities, activist information and resources, and more.)

Feminist Internet Gateway: Girls

(This part of the very extensive Feminist Majority site offers annotated links for young women and girls, including a number not listed here.)

Feminist Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Utopia for Young Adults

(A listing of what's available for young adults, without much annotation. Part of Laura Quilter's extensive feminist science fiction site.)

FIRST: Female Involvement in Real Science & Technology

(This site offers highlights of FIRST, an afterschool science program for girls in elementary and middle schools that was hosted by Chabot Space & Science Center and funded by the National Science Foundation. See also Techbridge, below.)

4CollegeWomen

(A site dealing with women's health, with a focus especially on health issues facing college-age women. Created by Brandeis University students and sponsored and overseen by the Former U. S. Assistant Surgeon General, Dr. Susan J Blumenthal, the site is especially strong on information about the following concerns: General Health and Prevention; Tobacco, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse; Reproductive Health; Emotional and Mental Health; Diseases and Conditions; and Safety and Violence-Related Issues.)

For Girls and Their Dreams

(This website, affiliated with New Moon magazine, is designed to give girls 8-14 some fun and interesting online activities: clubs to join, puzzles, contests, adventures [and not just online], a provocative question of the month, a website of the month, a chance to speak out, and more.)

Frag Dolls

(The Frag Dolls are a group of girl gamers whose site includes their individual blogs, a forum, and a calendar of events, including opportunities to play against one or more of the Frag Dolls in online games.)

GEMS: Girls Excelling in Math and Science

(The GEMS club has been in existence since 1994 to expose 5th and 6th grade girls to the fun and wonder of math, science, and technology. The web site offers information about the club's activities and history, instructions for starting a similar club, tips for adults, and links to related sites for girls.)

Gender & Diversities Institute

(An institute "dedicated to improving the well-being of individuals and communities, especially women and girls, through innovative, gender-healthy approaches to life-long learning." It focuses on "developing gender-healthy education and schools; technology and gender; the elimination of all forms of gendered violence; improving economic self-sufficiency for both women and men; and developing a deeper understanding of the multiple ways to define femininity and masculinity" and offers projects and resources that further those goals.)

Gender and Technology in Education: A Research Review

(This extensive 2005 article by Jo Sanders, an internationally recognized authority on gender equity, offers an extraordinarily clear, comprehensive, well-documented account of worldwide research in the area of gender and technology in education, both in and outside the classroom, from pre-school through the university. It includes coverage of efforts to remedy the imbalance between males' and females' involvement with technology.)

Gender Equity in Education

(Martha C. Phelps-Borrowman has created a useful site that focuses primarily on gender equity in science and mathematics. It includes lessons to interest girls in science and math and to acquaint students with the accomplishments of women in these fields, along with links to related sites.)

Gender Equity Resources

(Experienced author and gender equity project director Jo Sanders has put together an impressive set of online gender equity resources, including articles she has written, an interactive tutorial entitled Equity in the IT Classroom, and links to relevant web sites. The web links are arranged in six categories: General Education; Math, Science, and Technology; Gender Equity, General; Gender Equity in Math & Science; Gender Equity in Technology; and Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status.)

GenderWatchers

(GenderWatchers is an organization devoted to the advancement of women and girls. Its searchable web site contains a rich assortment of resources concerning gender equity in education. The site also offers a weekly e-mail newsletter dealing with "educational, social, economic and political updates concerning women worldwide" and a monthly e-zine on education for women and girls.)

The Girl Difference: Short-Circuiting the Myth of the Technophobic Girl

(A 2001 research report issued by the Girl Scouts of the USA debunking the myth that girls are afraid of or uninterested in technology. A detailed executive summary is available for viewing or downloading; one can also order a hard-copy version of the entire report.)

Girl Power!

(Aimed at girls 9-14, this site has sections about books, health, Internet sites, puzzles, sports and fitness, accomplished women, and more. It also has a section "4 Grownups" that includes useful resources and fact sheets/notes. Sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services.)

Girls and ICTs 2007

(This Australian site offers abundant information about girls/women and ICTs, including projects and suggestions for how to interest more young women in ICTs and ICT careers.)

Girls and Women in Science

(Beloit College program to encourage girls' interest in science; includes a bibliography and links to related sites.)

Girls@Play

(Part of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity's web site, this section is aimed at girls and offers news about women and girls in sports, information about female athletes [primarily Canadian], opportunities for Canadian girls to get involved in sports, and sections such as "What's Hot," "Ask the Experts," and "Tell Us Your Story.")

GirlsCanDo.com

(This site, whose aim is "helping girls discover their life's passions," is designed both for girls 8-18 and for adults who wish to work with girls. It is divided into seven sections: Outdoor Adventures, Sports, My Body, The Arts, Sci-Tech, Change the World, and Learn, Earn, Intern. Each section offers interviews with women in related fields, links to summer camps and other programs, recommendations for related books, films, music, and gifts, and more. The site arose from a book about girls' resources by Charlotte Milholland.)

Girls Creating Games

(The website of an after-school and summer program designed to support middle school girls' interest in computers and information technology. Though the program itself has ended, the site makes it possible to view the games the girls developed, download tools for teachers [on pair programming, problem solving, game design, tech identity (including lesson plans), and retaining girls], and read about the research findings that came from the program.)

GirlsGoTech

(Sponsored by the Girl Scouts, this site is designed to encourage girls' interest in science, math, and technology. It includes interactive information about careers, biographies of accomplished women in science, math, and technology, brief information about HTML and web design, and some online games.)

GirlsHealth.gov

(Sponsored by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, this site gives girls 10-16 reliable, current information about health, growing up, and issues they may face. Focusing especially on health issues, the site contains sections on body, fitness, nutrition, illness and disability, drugs, alcohol and smoking, mind, relationships, and more. Each topic also offers separate resources for parents and caregivers.)

Girls Inc.

(A web site designed to inspire girls to be "strong, smart, and bold." Features include articles about health and lifestyle issues, reading lists, relaxation techniques, a news section, a do-it-yourself section that covers such topics as building a web site, managing your money, and growing a garden, and a lot more.)

Girls in Technology Event Planning

(Sponsored by Cisco Systems, this site provides information about events in the U.S. designed to inspire girls to pursue careers in computer, engineering, math, and science fields. Organizations planning such events can use this site to develop and promote them. Sections include Organize Your Event, Sample Event Agendas, Sample Activities, and Summaries of Past Events. The site also provides links to extensive information about other aspects of Cisco's Gender Initiative.)

Girls Online: A Women's Studies Module

(One of a series of excellent modules developed by Virginia Tech's Women's Studies Program for use in courses. It includes links, readings, and discussion questions, as well as a restricted chatroom.)

Girlstart.com: Smart from the Start

(The web site title bar describes the site as "Math, Science, Games, and More for Girls Only!" One appealing section offers career information and advice, including profiles of young women role models. Though the site emphasizes science and math, many of the sections include other fields as well. This page is now apparently part of the larger Girlstart organization, which offers after-school programs, Saturday camps, and Summer camps to encourage girls to excel in math, science, and technology .)

Girls Tech: Girls, Science, and Technology

(Web site helps teachers, parents, and youth group leaders evaluate electronic resources such as web sites, CD-ROMs, software, and games that will encourage and increase young women's interest and participation in the sciences and technology. The site provides evaluation criteria with citations, an explanation of the theory underlying the research, sample sites, and a bibliography.)

Girls to the Fourth Power Algebra Program

(Imaginative ways to make algebra more appealing to girls. Don't miss the terrific tongue-in-cheek page, "California-style Algebra Problems." The site grew out of a pilot algebra tutoring program in 1996 and for the most part has not been updated, but girls continue to post their thoughts on the "Algebra Attitude Page." The site seems designed to appeal both to girls and to parents and teachers.)

Girls with IT

(This Australian site, created by female students and designed to be attractive to girls, offers useful information for girls and young women about opportunities in information technology. Among the sections are those dealing with jobs in IT, profiles of women in IT, fun projects that involve IT, a mystery job game that helps participants match their interests with various IT careers, and more.)

A Girl's World

(A cyber-magazine for girls 7-17, "run for and by girls with the help of caring adults." Articles, stories, advice columns, quizzes, and contests created by girls around the world. Chat, pen-pals, surveys, and more in 60 interactive areas.)

GirlTECH: Getting Girls Interested in Computers

(Cynthia Lanius of Rice University has put together a valuable collection of resources concerned with spurring girls' interest in mathematics and computer science. This page includes an introduction to the issue, ten tips, and a large collection of links to related sites.)

Girl Zone

(Site for junior and senior high school girls offering a variety of interesting sections, including book reviews by girls, technology info, fashion, sports, food, news events of interest to girls, and more. A large "downtown" area contains mostly advertisements, but much of the rest of the site offers interesting content.)

Global Reproductive Health Forum: TeenZone

(Sponsored by the Harvard University School of Public Health, TeenZone offers links to information on abortion, contraception, HIV/AIDS, STDs, adolescent rights, and teen life. Teen girls may find some valuable information here. TeenZone is part of a much larger website on global reproductive health.)

GREAT: The Effect of Computers on the Gender Gap in Education

(This "special issue" of GREAT: Gender Relations in Educational Applications of Technology was created by Stanford University students in early 1998. It offers a series of articles addressing gender inequality in the classroom, gender disparity in computer-related fields, and the introduction of computers into the classroom, as well as case studies, personal stories, and software reviews.)

Groovy Girls

(Graphically exciting site designed for girls 6-12. Girls can create an onscreen persona with a chosen face, skin tone, and hair style, dress her in funky clothes, chat with other girls from around the world, hang out and decorate their own Mod Pod, invent crazy dance steps, take photos, and more. The site pushes the Groovy Girl line of dolls and accessories but does not sell them on the site. Definitely worth a look.)

A Handbook of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Activities for 8-12 Year Olds

(A very useful 270-page handbook developed jointly by the University of Arizona and the Sahuaro Girl Scouts, with funding from the National Science Foundation. It includes advice about doing science, technology, math, and engineering with 8-12 year olds, specific discussion of girls' involvement, and extensive descriptions of specific activities. The activities are divided into the following categories: Chemical Engineering, Flight/Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Simple Machines, Solar Energy, Structures, Technology, and Properties of Water. Another section identifies some related science sites on the Internet. The handbook is in pdf format, which requires the use of a free Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Hardy Girls Healthy Women

(This site provides "resources for growing strong girls & women." These resources include an annotated bibliography for books, videos, magazines, and curricular material, which can be borrowed from the site; programs designed to create "hardiness zones for girls and women"; relevant events; well-organized, annotated links to related sites; and information about the research of Prof. Lyn Mikel Brown of Colby College.)

The History of Women and Science, Health, and Technology: Books for Older Children and Young Adults

(Part of the excellent bibliography series from the University of Wisconsin Women's Studies Librarian's Office. Partly annotated.)

Imaginary Lines -- See Sally Ride Science, below.

I Was Wondering...Women's Advantures in Science

(This site, designed to be appealing to middle-school girls, introduces the girls to women in science and promotes girls' interest in being scientists themselves. The National Academy of Sciences sponsors the website and also a related series of 10 books about these women scientists. The website, which makes extensive use of Flash, adds games, comics, a timeline, and activities.)

Just For Girls

(Sponsored by the Girl Scouts, this site is designed for girls 7-17. It offers information and activities about careers, sports, fitness, pen pals, games, and more, and includes an extensive, annotated set of links to other sites for girls.)

Latinitas

(Latinitas describes itself as "the webzine for Latina girls." Actually, it is two webzines: one for Latina teens, the other for pre-teen Latina girls. It includes sections devoted to music reviews, poetry by Latinas, advice, Latinitas traditions, "real life," profiles of noteworthy Latinas, and more. Much of the content is written by as well as for Latinas. Parts of the site are also available in Spanish.)

Let There Be Equity!: A Gender Equity WebQuest

(A WebQuest is an "inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web." This particular WebQuest is designed "to allow teachers to examine the topic of gender equity and how it applies to their students, their schools, themselves, and society.")

MaMaMedia

(Aimed at kids 12 and under, MaMaMedia offers abundant opportunities for what its designer, Idit Harel, calls "playful learning" using "imagination technology." Kids can make their own cartoons, games, avatars, designs, e-cards, etc., as well as share jokes and stories, play games, find other interesting sites, create "My MaMaMedia," and more. Though the site is not designed only for girls, girls make up approximately two-thirds of MaMaMedia participants.)

Math Cats

(Teacher/mother Wendy Petti has created a wonderfully engaging and visually striking site that brings mathematics to life through math-related art, crafts, games, facts, and more. Math Cats will probably appeal most to elementary and middle school students, though some of its offerings will intrigue people of any age. "Older Cats" (parents and teachers) will find a useful idea bank of math activities and resources, as well as a newsletter. Though Math Cats is not designed specifically for girls, many girls are among its most enthusiastic audience.)

Media Portrayals of Girls and Women

(This bi-lingual [English/French] Canadian site "provides a snapshot of the issues around the media's portrayal of women and girls -- from effects on body image and self-identity to ramifications in sports and politics. It looks at the economic interests behind the objectification and eroticization of females by the media as well as efforts to counter negative stereotyping." Also included on the site are sections dealing with media portrayal of "ethnic and visible minorities," aboriginal people, men and masculinity, gays and lesbians, and whiteness and white privilege, as well as resources for teachers and parents. From Canada's non-profit Media Awareness Network.)

New Moon

(The online version of New Moon Magazine for Girls offers extensive features (articles, poetry, fiction, mail) from current and back issues, related links, and information about subscribing.)

No Girls Allowed!

(Melissa Koch's 1994 article in Technos Quarterly describes factors that may cause some girls to turn away from technology.)

Pair Programming Research at UC Santa Cruz

(Pair programming has been identified as a way to make computer programming more attractive to women and girls. This site includes more than a dozen articles, including some that directly address gender issues, such as "Pair Programming Strategies for Middle School Girls," "Female Computer Science Students Who Pair-Program Persist," and "Retaining Women in Computer Science: The Impact of Pair Programming Project Update.")

PDK Poster Project: Using Visual Means to Challenge Stereotypes

(The PDK Project has two major goals: to promote "awareness and appreciation of science and technology by humanizing the image of research science and scientists" and to support women and girls who choose to pursue careers related to the physical sciences and mathematics. The site's resources include 36 visually stunning posters; study guides to accompany each poster; videos, interviews, and biographies of the poster participants; links to related sites; and more.)

Preparing Women and Minorities for Science and Engineering: Resources for Educators, Parents, and the Community

(This annotated listing by Eileen L. Collins includes a number of excellent resources, though, to my dismay, it fails to mention the highly acclaimed web site of the Center for Women and Information Technology. Still, it offers much of value. Its listings are arranged in seven categories: Women in STEM, Minorities in STEM, Education Resources, STEM Education Resources, Planning Education and Career Paths, Technology in Education, and Ensuring Kids' Safety on the Internet. Available in pdf format.)

Reflections of Girls in the Media: A Content Analysis

(This 1997 study by Prof. Nancy Signorelli examines the messages relating to body image, behavior, activities, and motivation sent to teen and pre-teen girls by four media: television shows and commercial, movies, music videos, and teen magazines. The study also captures the demographic makeup of the characters in the media consumed most often by young girls.)

Research on Young Women in Computer Science: Promoting High Technology for Girls

(Text of an invited presentation by Dr. Gail Crombie in 1999 to the annual meeting of the Professional Engineers of Ontario)

Rosh Hodesh: It's a Girl Thing!

(Rosh Hodesh describes itself as "a values-based, experiential and transdenominational Jewish program that strengthens the self-esteem and Jewish identity of adolescent girls in grades 6-12." The web site describes the program and how to find or establish one and offers an extensive set of links to related sites.)

Sally Ride Science

(Founded by former astronaut Sally Ride, Sally Ride Science is an organization whose mission is "to increase the number of girls who are technically literate and who have the foundation they need to go on in science, math, or engineering." The web site, intended for parents, teachers, and girls, provides information about why such efforts are needed and activities and resources designed to achieve this mission. Among the resources is a handbook for parents entitled Science Can Take Her Places!: Encouraging Your Daughter's Interest in Science, Math, and Technology.)

Science, Gender, and Afterschool

(A web site for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, parents, and others interested in strengthening the role of afterschool education in increasing girls' participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] education and careers. The site includes documents such as "What We Know About Girls, Stem, and Afterschool Programs" and "Research-Action Agenda," as well as information about issues involved in afterschool programs, details about a Science, Gender, and Afterschool email forum, and links to related sites and resources.)

Shiny Shiny

(Describing itself as "a girl's guide to gadgets," London-based Shiny Shiny aims to appeal to women and girls who find most geek sites oriented overwhelmingly toward males. Categories include accessories, cameras, celeb gadgets, gadgets, games, grooming, music on the move, phones, product reviews, soft 'ahem' furnishings, telly stuff, and things to do online.)

SistaGirls

(An online magazine, SistaGirls seems designed primarily for African American girls in their teens. It offers a chance for girls to write for the magazine, read about their peers, learn about careers and health topics, and more.)

SmartGirl

(Where girls find what's hot and what's not. Reviews by girls of computer games, movies, books, music, magazines, and websites. Chat space. Advice about love. Discussion of issues.)

¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina!

(Bilingual [Spanish/English] web site for Hispanic girls 9-14, with a focus on health and wellness. The site also attempts to help girls learn about their heritage, develop self-esteem, and deal with the physical and emotional changes they are experiencing.)

Studio 2B

(Developed by the Girl Scouts, Studio 2B is a site for girls 11-17 who often find traditional Girl Scouts unappealing. Created largely by and for girls, Studio 2B offers teen girls a space where they can explore who they want to be and what they want to do. Sections include Life, Style, Next, Escape, Pulse, Lounge, and Boutique.)

TAP: The Ada Project

("The Ada Project (TAP) is a clearinghouse for information and resources related to women in computing. TAP serves primarily as a collection of links to other online resources, rather than as an archive. TAP includes information on conferences, projects, discussion groups and organizations, fellowships and grants, notable women in Computer Science, and other electronically accessible sites. The goal of TAP is to provide a central location through which these resources can be 'tapped.'" One section, TAP Junior, focuses on resources for girls interested in computing.)

Techbridge: Encouraging Girls in Technology, Science, and Engineering

(Techbridge is an NSF-funded program to encourage more girls to become interested in technology, science, and engineering. Its web site offers a description of the program and a variety of useful, well-annotated resources to accomplish Techbridge's mission.)

Tech-Savvy: Educating Girls in the New Computer Age

(Summary of a report issued in 2000 by the American Association of University Women about many girls' lack of enthusiasm for computer science and for technical careers, some of the possible explanations for this, and what can be done to change the situation--and why. The full report is available for sale, but the summary itself is informative.)

Tech Savvy Girls

(The 2002 video "Tech Savvy Girls" discusses girls' under-representation in information technology (IT) classes and careers, and makes recommendations for combatting the IT gender gap. The site includes a description of the video and an order form. A free Resource Guide is also available in pdf format, for which you'll need the Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for download at no cost.. The "Tech Savvy Girls" video was produced in conjunction with the Fairfax (VA) Public Schools and the American Association of University Women.)

Teen Voices

(Online version of the print publication that offers "an intelligent alternative" to the mainstream media's image of girls. Artwork, poetry, and articles by teen and young adult women. Readers are encouraged to submit pieces about "self-esteem, racism, sexism, feminism, popular culture, health, and other issues important to them." Sample features available online from current and back issues.)

TeleMentoring Young Women in Science, Engineering, & Computing

(An NSF-funded project to build on-line communities of support among female high school students, professional women in technical fields, parents, and teachers.)

Testing 1, 2, 3; Technology to Girls: Hello?

(Useful 1998 SF Gate article by Corey Hitchcock about girls' often unenthusiastic attitude toward technology. Includes some footnotes and related links.)

The 3rd WWWave

(Subtitled "feminism for the new millennium," this site reflects "the unique view of women's issues and feminism in the generation of women who came of age in the '80s." The site offers remarks about history, politics, male-female relationships, and a lot more. It provides links to third-wave perspectives about "fun and hobbies," sexuality, money, self-defense, the Internet, and daily living, and a section devoted to third-wave views of second-wave feminism.)

Through the Glass Wall: Computer Games for Mathematical Empowerment

(This site focuses on using computer games for gender equity and mathematical empowerment. It includes an extensive list of computer games, indexed by age and content, along with reviews of many of the games. In addition, there is a bibliography of gender-sensitive research on computer games and mathematics.)

Under the Microscope: A Decade of Gender Equity Projects in the Sciences

(This 2004 report from the American Association of University Women [AAUW] looks at hundreds of gender equity projects in the sciences funded over the past decade by the AAUW and the National Science Foundation and addresses the following questions: 1) what can we learn from a decade of gender equity efforts in the sciences? 2) what types of gender equity projects in the sciences have been supported and promoted? 3) which STEM disciplines and project approaches have been favored and which have been overlooked? The report is available at no cost as a downloadable pdf file for which you need the free Adobe Acrobat reader.)

Vandergrift's Feminist Page (Kay Vandergrift)

(Special strengths in history, in books for children and young adults, in feminist sites, and in websites devoted to empowering girls.)

Videos / Films on Equity in Math, Science, & Technology

(Brief but well annotated listing of films and videos whose aim is to encourage more women and girls to study math, science, & technology. Compiled by Dr. Anand Pardhanani of the U. of Texas at Austin.)

What you can do to help GRRLS get into technology

(Part of Educational CyberPlayground, this page offers annotated links to resources, mentoring programs, and projects to help girls use science, math, and technology.)

Why Janie Can't Engineer: Raising Girls to Succeed

(This article by freelance writer Pat McNees appeared in 2004 in the Washington Post. In addition to the article, which offers useful insights into the under-representation of girls in science, engineering, and technology, the web site provides links to related resources, including a link to the 2003 book McNees wrote for the National Science Foundation, New Formulas for America's Workforce: Girls in Science and Engineering.)

Whyville

(Whyville is an imaginative web site that aims to help elementary, middle, and high school students understand and enjoy science. It differs dramatically from most science education sites in its use of avatars, games, computer simulation and modelling, a Whyville newspaper, and interactivity among Whyville participants. Though Whyville is not designed specifically for girls, girls make up more than 60% of its users, an exceptionally high percentage for a science-and-technology-focused site.)

Withitgirl

(A refreshing alternative site for teen girls, especially those interested in sports, writing and writers, music, the visual arts, and film and who don't mind the site's blinking, flashing ads. The site offers reviews of books, movies, musicians, and recordings, an art gallery, a photo album, some off-beat articles such as "Remembering My Cadaver" and "Is Playboy's First Jewish Model a Role Model?", and links to related sites.)

WMST-L File Collection: Girls and Young Women

(Selected files created from discussions on WMST-L, an e-mail forum for women's studies teaching, research, and program administration. The files in this section focus on girls and/or young women.)

Women in Computer Science

(An online brochure from the Computing Research Association Committee on the Status of Women in Computing Research. The brochure is designed to encourage women to consider careers in computer science. It includes an Introduction that describes the field and who might like it, Biographies of a number of female computer scientists, and assorted other Resources. The site seems intended both for high school girls and for women making career choices or changes.)

Women in Engineering Organization

(Created by Tufts University's School of Engineering, this site seeks to encourage more women and girls to become engineers. It provides valuable resources to further that aim. These include discussions of "What is engineering?" and "Why choose engineering?" and separate sections of resources designed for Girls, Parents, K-12 Teachers, Guidance Counselors, College Women, College Faculty, Industry, and Project Directors.)

Women in Mathematics: Resources and Other Useful Stuff

(Sponsored by CAMEL, the Canadian Mathematical Society, this site contains information and excellent links of interest to women in mathematics and to those contemplating careers in mathematics. Separate sections devoted to Educational Issues for Girls and Women; Biographies; Organizations; Books, Articles, Speeches, and Bibliographies; and Miscellaneous Mathematical Links.)

Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics ON THE AIR!

(This site describes itself as "an audio resource for young girls, young women, parents, middle and high school teachers, college professors, guidance counselors, . . . and anyone interested in learning more about the past, present, and future role of women in science and technology education, fields, and careers." Included are brief audio profiles of great women in the history of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; full-length audio accounts of what today's women are doing to encourage the next generation achieve success in these fields; interviews between teen girls and successful women in these fields; and more. The site also offers ideas for using these audio resources.)

Women in Technology

(A multi-faceted project from Vermont Technical College designed to encourage young women in middle school and high school to study math, science, and technology and to explore careers in these fields. Programs include a summer camp, telementoring, and more.)

Women in Technology

(A Hawaii-based organization that seeks to improve the "economic quality of life for women by encouraging them into higher-paying technology occupations." Women in Technology has developed a number of initiatives to achieve this goal, some aimed at middle- and high-school students, others at college students and women in the workforce. The web site includes information about all the initiatives, along with resource articles, scholarship information, a calendar of events, and extensive links to related sites.)

Women of NASA

(Site designed to encourage more young women to pursue careers in science, math, and technology. Includes profiles of female scientists, ideas for integrating the site's information into the curriculum, an annotated bibliography of books related to gender equity in math and science, and more. Aimed primarily at K-12, but useful also at the college level.)

Women's Sports Foundation

(This nonprofit foundation's site offers a variety of resources related to women's participation in sports, including scholarships and internships available, information about training, fitness, careers, gender equity, homophobia, disability, and much more.)

Women's Studies for Pre-Teens

(A compilation of messages from WMST-L, a Women's Studies e-mail list, focusing on resources for teens and pre-teens.)

WOW/EM (Women on the Web/ElectronMedia)

(Kristine Burns' web site is "devoted to young women in high school and college who are interested in music and art . . . and who also like math, science, and computers." The site provides abundant information about electronic art, artists, hardware and software, career advice, where to seek training, women-focused music and art resources, links to relevant organizations, magazines, and email lists, and a lot more.)

WWWomen:Personal/Girls

(Like FeMiNa, WWWomen is a women-related search engine. This multi-page section offers sites of particular interest to girls.)

Zoey's Room - A Tech Know Community for Girls

("Zoey's room is an online community for girls ages 10-14, a place where girls can go to explore math, science and technology in a fun, safe and creative environment." Zoey's room offers an online collaborative community, a chance to communicate with Zoey in her chat room, Fab Female role model online chats, a place to showcase girls' creative work, and hands-on challenges that lead to big prizes such as digital cameras.)