About Girls Debate

ABOUT THE GIRLS DEBATE LEAGUE

The New York City Urban Debate League founded the first girls debate league in the nation. This was brought about by several of our debaters coming together to provide additional opportunities for female debaters as well as challenge stereotypes and sexism in the traditional debate community. Historically, there is a substantial gender gap in scholastic debate which increases in high school and higher education to the point that the vast majority of college student debaters are male. Girls Debate is founded to change that. The result is that in the New York City Urban Debate League there are more females than males participating in debate. 

The Girls Debate League is founded not simply as just a competitive debate league, but as a holistic program of debate education which offers workshops, meetings, mentors, leadership preparation, women’s issues study, guest speakers, youth empowerment, advocacy training, skills, and other content area. We also partner with incredible community organizations such as the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute which offers one of the most powerful summer leadership and debate programs for youth.

Debate tournaments and awards are not the end but the means to equip future generations with the skills to be our leaders of today and tomorrow.

Click here to learn more about the Girls Debate League