COLUMBUS, Ohio — “I think that their fears are real, they’re authentic because we can't promise them that everything's going to be fine because we don’t know that ourselves,” said Dr. Lisa Hinkleman.

Hinkleman is the CEO and Founder of the nonprofit organization ROX or “Ruling Our Experiences,” the team that’s taking a deeper look into the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on elementary and high school girls.

What You Need To Know

  • Dr. Lisa Hinkleman started the non-profit organization Ruling Our Experiences or ROX in 2013

  • Just surveyed more than 1,200 fifth through twelfth grade girls to gauge the true impact of COVID-19 on them

  • Eighty percent of girls feel more lonely, more than 50% are unsure or scared of the future

“We know for girls it has a differential impact because of how social girls are. They really define themselves and create their identity based on the relationships with others.”

Hinkleman and her team surveyed more than 1,200 fifth through twelfth grade girls asking questions about school, technology, relationships and stress due to the pandemic.

“Nearly 80 percent of girls say that they feel more lonely and isolated since the onset.”

ROX found the pandemic is not only impacting how girls feel right now, but even how they feel about what's to come.

“The second trend that I think is disturbing is the fact that so many girls are thinking differently about their futures, and not in all positive ways.”

In fact, more than 50 percent of the girls reported they feel uncertain or scared about the future, including Airyana Washington, a Columbus City Schools junior with dreams of becoming a congresswoman.

“This pandemic has really made me think about being a part of the government,” said Washington.

Washington graduated the ROX program herself in sixth grade and is now an ambassador for other girls. But, she says the pandemic has made her feel lonely, too.

“I was like seeing my friends on a constant basis because they don't go to the same school as me. And then all of a sudden it just stopped and it was really heartbreaking.”

It’s these feelings of disconnect and isolation that Hinkleman says girls often need support working through.

“So I think we have to recognize that the emotions that they are having in response to this situation are serious and we need to address those with girls directly by acknowledging what they're feeling, by helping them navigate these complicated emotions, and then, by giving them control over their environment,” said Hinkleman.

And as for Washington’s advice to her peers — “I just think that talking to your friends about that and destigmatizing mental disorder helps you reach out and be a better friend especially during this pandemic.”