Young Australian women: circumstances and aspirations

In this summary of an invited address to the inaugural Australian Women Speak conference, Anita Harris provides an overview of research that has been undertaken into Australian young women as a diverse but separate demographic category. She suggests that although young women enjoy greater opportunities, more rights and increased choices, they also face considerable pressures to succeed, and challenges in terms of economic opportunities, civic participation, health, status and safety that need to be taken into consideration when deciding both research and policy directions.