Rachel Simmons argues that in idealizing the "good girl" -- unerringly nice, polite, modest, and selfless -- we teach girls to embrace a version of selfhood that curtails their power and potential.
Drawing on the exercises Simmons herself uses in her work with girls, parents, and educators, The Curse of the Good Girl provides a catalog of practical strategies to foster girls' assertiveness, resilience, and integrity. At the core of Simmons's argument is her belief that the most critical freedom we can win for our daughters is the liberty not only to listen to their inner voice but also to act on it.
For more reading recommendations for parents of Mighty Girls, visit our Parenting section.
"In this volume for parents of middle-school daughters, the author of Odd Girl Out observes that girls today still pressure themselves to conform to the old, narrow paradigm of a nice, people-pleasing, rule-following, even-tempered, socially acceptable good girl, shunning the image of a rebellious, proud, socially outré, in-charge, outspoken bad girl....Girls Leadership Institute founder Simmons offers instructive tales out of school and workshops, revealing that flawed communication rituals and fear of confrontation contribute equally to a girl's belief that it is more important to be liked than to be an individual. In order to become a successful, well-adjusted real girl, she needs to know how to say no to peers, ask for what she needs and express what she thinks." -- Publishers Weekly
Author | Rachel Simmons |
---|---|
ISBN | 014311798X |
Publication Date | Aug 31, 2010 |
Publisher | Penguin Books |
Language | English |
Parenting Books Age | Pre-Teen |