Ruling Our Experiences (ROX)
Model & Strategy
The world is complicated for girls. Fitting in, body image, pressure, academics, friendships and relationships are all challenging to navigate. Add to this, the nuances of technology and social media and it is not surprising that girls are reporting high levels of pressure alongside declining levels of self-confidence.
That is why Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) utilizes research and evidence-based programming to simultaneously impact girls, educate and support the adult influencers in girls’ lives, and improve the societal conditions that have the potential to negatively impact girls. Emerging from a 2006-2011 faculty research study at The Ohio State University, the mission of ROX is to equip girls with the knowledge and skills needed to live healthy, independent, productive and violence-free lives. Their vision is to create generations of confident girls who can control their own relationships, experiences and decisions.
After years of developing expertise in the fields of clinical and school counseling and aggressively researching the experiences of girls as a tenure track professor at The Ohio State University, Dr. Lisa Hinkelman decided to exit academia to chart her own course. Lisa was committed to translating the findings of her research into meaningful action and she knew that ROX would never reach its full potential if it remained her faculty research study. With an innovative vision, an eager board and a frugal budget, Lisa incorporated ROX as its own nonprofit organization in 2011. Since that time, ROX has grown from a local program to a national organization making a substantial impact on the lives of thousands of girls and their families each year.
Lisa’s research was published by Corwin Press in the award-winning book Girls Without Limits: Helping Girls Achieve Healthy Relationships, Academic Success and Interpersonal Strength in 2013. Girls Without Limits is currently being utilized by parents, educators, helping professionals, and University professors across the country. Lisa was most recently honored as a Nominated Changemaker for The White House United State of Women and has been recognized as one of Columbus Business First’s Top 40 Under 40.
IMPACT
The 20-week ROX curriculum has been validated and proven effective with more than 6,000 girls in various settings and has demonstrated outcomes. ROX is delivered by licensed professionals in schools and communities throughout the country and Guam.
ROX plans to more than double this impact over the next three years, partnering with more schools and districts to expand ROX programming across the country.
ROX is taking the lead on national research focused on girls and recently executed an 18-month innovative research project. The Girls’ Index is the first-ever, national survey, designed to provide a deeper understanding of the experiences, perceptions, beliefs and behaviors of teen girls throughout the United States. Through partnerships with schools across the country, The Girls’ Index was completed by nearly 11,000 girls and provides a robust and representative sample of girls in 2017.
Ruling Our Experiences (ROX) News
-
Study Shows Positive Correlation Between Playing Sports, Better Self-Image Among GirlsA new report that surveyed more than 10,000 girls across the country has found a positive correlation between playing sports and increased confidence, body image,…Apr 2018 -
ROX Presents: The Girls' IndexThe Girls’ Index is the first-ever, large-scale national survey designed to develop a deeper understanding of the thoughts, experiences, perceptions, beliefs, behaviors and attitudes of…Oct 2017
