Synopsis: Caitlin Flanagan's essays about marriage, sex, and families have sparked national debates. Now she turns her attention to girls: the biological and cultural milestones for girls today, and how they shape a girl's sense of herself.
The transition from girl to woman is an experience that has changed radically over the generations: everything from how a girl learns about her period to how she expects to be treated by boys and men. Girls today observe these passages very differently, and yet the landmarks themselves have remained remarkably constant-proof, Flanagan believes, of their significance. In a world where protections of girls' privacy and personal freedom seem to disappear every day, the ultimate challenge modern parents face is finding a way to defend both
About the Author Caitlin Flanagan is a former high school teacher who became a writer; she has been on staff at The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and the Wall Street Journal. A winner of the National Magazine Award, she has also written for Time, O, The Oprah Magazine, the New York Times, and theLos Angeles Times. Her work has been widely anthologized in, among other publications, The Best American Essays and The Best American Magazine Writing series. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons.
Review: Yes, it's sorta GIRL POWER week by default! Seriously, I did not plan it that way, just how the books came in and got read! This is another one of the books that ALL parents of girls should read! It's a quick read (I read it in one sitting, while Kiddo watched Sesame Street and Cailou if that gives you a better idea). The basis of the book is the paradox at the heart of Girl Land (puberty) today- on one hand there girls now have the same opportunities as boys, and the world is open to them. BUT on the other hand, our common culture has taken steps to erode those opportunities by being "openly contemptuous of girls and young women". The sexualization of young girls and the sense of exhibitionalism of our young people, makes puberty charges with land mines at every turn.
When you pause to think about it, it makes perfect sense. Think push up bras for 7 year olds, or sexually developed dolls aimed at 8 year olds. Even something as innocent as a Mardi Gras parade (tis the season) is now charged with so much exhibitism by YOUNG teens and women, that those with young children have fled the parade routes of their youth, in an attempt to keep their children safe a little while longer. Even when parent DO monitor and try to keep some of this culture from their young children, they are still surrounded by it on tv ads, magazines, and even at friends' houses. What is a parent to do?
I had to laugh when I read Flanagan's comment that with our current culture, we no longer want the Village to help us raise our kids- now we must PROTECT them from it's influence! Even at a simple 5 year old's birthday party this weekend, my best friend and I were appalled at what was deemed suitable for young children- short short skirts, with no leggings or shorts and tight tight jeans, more suited to a 19 year old (and yes, Kiddo had leggings under her skirt, even though it was longish, because I knew she would be up and down and not carrying who saw what)! If you can not control what a 5 year old is wearing OUT in public, then what will you do when she's 10 and looking like a coed?
Flanagan gives her readers some very simple ways to see for themselves how our media is male driven and exploitative of girls and young women. For example, the constant use of cell phone and computer, allows girls to be bombarded by images of women, that can make a young girl question her self worth, body image and even intelligence. By monitoring the media intake, and discussing images and videos, you can help your daughter see through exploitation. If you think this is extreme, go check out the videos for the songs your daughter is listening too. How many, even those being sung by women, show them as strong intelligent women, who are NOT at the beck and whim of a man? There are no Pat Benatars, Go Gos or Heart, for this generation. The musical girl empowerment movement faded when our generation grew up.
This book WILL make you think about the DANGERS that exist for our daughters, 80% more than for our sons. Our girls are reaching puberty sooner, due to environmental changes and adaptations, but their minds are not ready to be full fledged adults at ages 9-12. But very real dangers will exist for them by that age. Amazingly enough, there are no stats for how many 12-15 yr olds get pregnant every year. Yet, every medical and support group will tell you they have the HIGHEST changes of getting pregnant, as they do not comprehend the consequences of unprotected sex. In our community their stats are HIGHER than the 15-19 year olds. So do you need to read this book? YES and YES. The better informed and aware a parent can be, the more they can help their daughters navigate the mind fields of puberty and come out a strong, emotionally adept adult at the end.
How about THREE winners for this excellent book?
When you pause to think about it, it makes perfect sense. Think push up bras for 7 year olds, or sexually developed dolls aimed at 8 year olds. Even something as innocent as a Mardi Gras parade (tis the season) is now charged with so much exhibitism by YOUNG teens and women, that those with young children have fled the parade routes of their youth, in an attempt to keep their children safe a little while longer. Even when parent DO monitor and try to keep some of this culture from their young children, they are still surrounded by it on tv ads, magazines, and even at friends' houses. What is a parent to do?
I had to laugh when I read Flanagan's comment that with our current culture, we no longer want the Village to help us raise our kids- now we must PROTECT them from it's influence! Even at a simple 5 year old's birthday party this weekend, my best friend and I were appalled at what was deemed suitable for young children- short short skirts, with no leggings or shorts and tight tight jeans, more suited to a 19 year old (and yes, Kiddo had leggings under her skirt, even though it was longish, because I knew she would be up and down and not carrying who saw what)! If you can not control what a 5 year old is wearing OUT in public, then what will you do when she's 10 and looking like a coed?
Flanagan gives her readers some very simple ways to see for themselves how our media is male driven and exploitative of girls and young women. For example, the constant use of cell phone and computer, allows girls to be bombarded by images of women, that can make a young girl question her self worth, body image and even intelligence. By monitoring the media intake, and discussing images and videos, you can help your daughter see through exploitation. If you think this is extreme, go check out the videos for the songs your daughter is listening too. How many, even those being sung by women, show them as strong intelligent women, who are NOT at the beck and whim of a man? There are no Pat Benatars, Go Gos or Heart, for this generation. The musical girl empowerment movement faded when our generation grew up.
This book WILL make you think about the DANGERS that exist for our daughters, 80% more than for our sons. Our girls are reaching puberty sooner, due to environmental changes and adaptations, but their minds are not ready to be full fledged adults at ages 9-12. But very real dangers will exist for them by that age. Amazingly enough, there are no stats for how many 12-15 yr olds get pregnant every year. Yet, every medical and support group will tell you they have the HIGHEST changes of getting pregnant, as they do not comprehend the consequences of unprotected sex. In our community their stats are HIGHER than the 15-19 year olds. So do you need to read this book? YES and YES. The better informed and aware a parent can be, the more they can help their daughters navigate the mind fields of puberty and come out a strong, emotionally adept adult at the end.
How about THREE winners for this excellent book?
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Disclosure / Disclaimer: I was sent this book, free of charge, for review purposes, from Little Brown and Company. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it
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