Plan International USA finds U.S. youths overwhelmingly support gender equality, but hostile digital environments hold them back
"Because I Am a Girl" movement aims to kickstart progress, lock in gains
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Toxic online spaces, body image pressure and fear of being judged are harming young people across the United States, particularly girls, a new study by Plan International USA finds. The research found an overwhelming 94% of young people support gender equality, though most say they don't see it yet.
In a 2026 survey of more than 1,000 youths aged 10-19, 42% of older girls rated their mental health poorly, compared with 25% of older boys. Thirty-six percent of older girls on social media said they had experienced online sexual harassment, according to the study, titled "Listening to U.S. Adolescents on Gender & Equality" and conducted by the nonpartisan research firm PerryUndem.
Key findings
Young people from every U.S. region ranked their top priorities as living authentically (73%) and feeling at peace (73%). Marriage (34%) and parenthood (30%) ranked much lower.
While nearly eight in 10 adolescents say being their authentic selves is important, half the girls and more than one-third of boys reported choosing not to share their opinions online because they feared negative comments or backlash. Most teens distrust social media companies (62%) and government (73%) to take sexual harassment and assault seriously.
The percentage of young people who said they had considered running for elected office notably fell by 12%, from around 33% in 2018 to 21% in 2026, the survey found.
Girls who participate in team sports were more likely to view themselves as leaders, consider political leadership and report better mental health than girls who didn't participate. Yet participation declines with age, with only 41% of girls 14 to 19 reporting involvement in team sports, compared with 50% of boys.
'Profound concerns'
"Across demographics, young people share profound concerns about their safety, their ability to be themselves, their mental well-being and their future," Shanna Marzilli, President and CEO of Plan International USA, said. "When girls are afraid to speak their minds and interest in public life is on the decline, it is a threat not just to youth today but also to the future of our democracy. We cannot expect young people to lead in the future if we fail to create safe environments for them now."
"We need all young people to feel protected, heard, engaged and able to influence the future — and the research shows this is especially challenging for girls. The problems we face are too big and too many to solve without unleashing the talents of the entire generation that will inherit them — boys and girls," Marzilli said. "This study is a wake-up call, and it's telling us we must do better."
'Because I Am a Girl'
To address these negative pressures on young people and emerging crisis in youth mental health and civic engagement, Plan International USA aims to mobilize action through Because I Am a Girl, a global movement dedicated to supporting girls' safety, education and ability to shape their own lives.
From 2012-2018, Because I Am a Girl touched the lives of millions of girls, helped change laws and policies affecting girls and young women in 17 countries, raised hundreds of millions of dollars and contributed to landmark UN resolutions on child marriage. On International Day of the Girl 2026, Plan International USA is relaunching Because I Am a Girl with the aim of locking in hard-fought gains for girls that multiple overlapping crises — from the COVID-19 pandemic to surging conflict globally — have put at risk.
About the research
Plan International USA commissioned this study to gauge how young people are internalizing inequality, experiencing online environments and shaping their ambitions. Its margin of error is ± 3.5 percentage points, and it builds on Plan International USA's 2018 survey, "The State of Gender Equality for U.S. Adolescents," also conducted by PerryUndem.
"Listening to U.S. Adolescents on Gender & Equality" aims to provide a resource for policymakers, media, parents and educators to understand how young people internalize inequality, experience social pressures and shape their ambitions.
About Plan International
Plan International works alongside girls and their communities so that every girl can learn, lead, decide and thrive. Its work is expressed publicly through Because I Am a Girl, a movement of people who believe girls' rights are non-negotiable. For more than 85 years, Plan International has partnered with communities in more than 80 countries, with programs designed and led locally.
SOURCE Plan International USA
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