SAN ANTONIO -- Bianca Ramsey proudly showed off accomplishments by pointing out patches on her Girl Scouts vest. The word "can't" is not in her vocabulary.
- Study shoes wage gap in Alamo City
- Girl Scouts meeting with city leaders
- International Day of the Girl Child is Friday
"I want to be a Navy seal when I grow up," she said. She pointed out her dad is in the Navy, but she says she will be special.
“There's never been a female Navy Seal so I want to be the first," she said.
Ramsey’s Girl Scout leaders say her confidence is refreshing. She is only 10 years old and at an age when, scout leaders say, many girls begin to shy away from big dreams.
"The theory of a girl can do and be anything is true. However, there are a lot of obstacles that a girl has to overcome that boys don't," said Stephanie Finleon Cortez of the Girls Scout of Southwest Texas.
A study conducted in San Antonio, released earlier this year shows women in the Alamo City make less money compared to women in cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston. The wage gap between men and women is bigger here, too.
The Girl Scouts say research shows that trend begins when girls are young.
"More often than not families will pay the boys more for the chores they're doing than girls. That tells us the gender pay gap we talk about lately. That starts in childhood," said Cortez.
So for the first time ever, the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas is meeting with city leaders and other girl only organizations to find solutions to issues that hold girls back.The group is meeting on Friday morning, a day also known as the International Day of the Girl Child.
"What if we all invested in girls as much as we invest in other nonprofits? What could we accomplish?" Cortez asked.
Scout leaders are impressed at how far young women have come.
"Meeting with lawmakers, changing lives. I know I never thought of that when I was in high school. Seeing girls doing that now, I'm in awe," said Scout Leader Sandie Rios.
But while local leaders figure out what can be done to give more opportunities to young women, child advocates say there's something everyone can do at home to inspire your daughter, granddaughter, niece or sister. They suggest you talk to her about what is on her mind. Ask her questions. Ask her what she's passionate about, then guide her to an organization that can help her explore that passion.
The goal is to keep girls focused on what they can do and not what they can't.