101 WAYS TO HELP YOUR DAUGHTER LOVE HER BODY

Journalist Richardson and clinical psychologist Rehr, both mothers of teenage girls, closely examine the experience of girls today, and offer suggestions for counteracting the media, fashion trends, the lure of Barbie and other cultural input that may negatively impact a girl's confidence and self-image. Not surprisingly, much of the book concerns weight issues; models are 23% thinner than the average female, the authors point out, yet many girls measure themselves by this standard. Along with suggesting that parents limit the presence of fashion magazines in the house ("OK, call us humorless, but... we see fashion magazines as potentially dangerous to your daughter's health"), Richardson and Rehr advise mothers to consider the detrimental messages sent when they criticize their own bodies, and fathers to focus on female attributes other than size and shape. Besides much practical information, such as teaching girls to read a map ("to raise a daughter who moves through the world with self-confidence") or encouraging participation in sports, the authors also urge parents to delve into their own feelings about the female body. This may require some soul-searching—particularly for moms—about such topics as menstruation, childbirth and their own body images. Although primarily addressing mothers, the authors consider the enormous impact men have on their daughters' self-image and offer plenty of tips for fathers. Thought-provoking and navigable, the book will help parents reassess their own attitudes about the female body while imparting crucial values to their daughters. (Aug.)