Sexism and Sensibility: Raising Empowered, Resilient Girls in the Modern World

“Girls need to hear what they’re feeling is real and that they don’t have to silently suffer through it,” according to this perceptive debut manual. Drawing on client anecdotes to offer guidance on how parents can help girls navigate sexism, psychologist Finkelstein describes how one girl “stayed quiet about a major mistake in a group project... because she didn’t want to seem like a know-it-all,” and recommends that parents entreat their daughters to speak up more by inviting them to share even half-baked thoughts in casual conversation. Finkelstein emphasizes the importance of preparing girls to think critically about gender norms and expectations, suggesting that while parents shouldn’t dictate what girls can or can’t wear, they should discuss how self-objectification can masquerade as empowerment and how “real power is about the fair distribution of resources, political influence, and personal agency.” The author presents a wealth of research highlighting the myriad challenges young girls are up against, citing findings that latent sexism in TV programming makes girls “feel worse about themselves after watching,” and that teachers are more likely to chide girls than boys for calling out answers in class. The astute advice will help parents navigate these complex issues in ways that encourage their daughters to think for themselves and recognize their self-worth. This will make a worthy addition to any parent’s bookshelf. (Sept.)