A resources for parents, teachers, and mentors to read with young females

books:


	• Respect: A Girl's Guide to Getting Respect & Dealing When Your Line Is Crossed Courtney Macavinta, Andrea Vander Pluym Free Spirit Publishing, 2005 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 12 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Forget the fear, provoke and nurture that young female voice

As an educator of young men and women I commend the authors for writing a book that a young audience would actually use. Yes use. As reviewers have noted this book speaks with a tone of gentle authority without being preachy. More precisely, the book gives girls real-life problem solving guidance. Finally, this is a thought-provoking book for young women which also includes practical advice. An honest to goodness "Here's how I handled that situation and here are a few more suggestions" primer. I recommend it for classroom use.

Excellent Working Template for OPEN dialog

I have two girls, and we went through chapaters that were relevent to us, right now, and used many of the suggestions. One of the things I love about the book is it promotes open dialog between parents, but also sisters and friends. I have seen it work in action, and my daughters made up their own 'sisterhood' contract which we posted on the refrigerator, and refer too, often. The chapters you can review first if there are subjects that are sensitive to you, however, I found the 'sex' chapter very well written and received by both girls. Our next step is to have a 'sisterhood sleepover' where the girls invite their friends, and we have some open discussions on self respect and respect of others. This is an excellent tool for a parent, or guardian of a young person.

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Great Gift For Girls

I read this book while researching teen abuse and was very impressed. It gets all of those sensitive topics that adults and teens would rather ignore (not just sex, but abuse, eating disorders and difficulties in relationships and friendships) out in the open. The book teaches girls how to make good decisions for themselves while remaining open and communicating with friends and family. The theme is respect through empowerment and is targeted at an age group and gender that often (sadly) feel they have no power.

It's down-to-earth and isn't preachy, which is important because kids tend to rebel against that method. I didn't always listen to my parents as a pre-teen and teen (shocker of the century) and I could've used the guide lines in this book to make better decisions rather than trying to do everything on my own. I especially like the activities in the book -- makes it interactive and personal. It's a great gift for a pre-teen or teen girl -- much better investment than a new shirt or iTunes gift certificate!

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A resources for parents, teachers, and mentors to read with young females

I picked up Respect with a critical eye, fully prepared to read some fluffy, new-age, condescendingly grrrl-empowering text. Trust me, none of those adjectives fit this terrific resource. Authors Macavinta and Vander Pluym provide talking points for discussion and personal introspection on topics ranging from friends to family to the opposite sex to body image and self-image. The book is not a guide about what to think or do, but a template for drafting one's own guidelines and ethos. The authors continually recommend that young readers keep a journal and use specific topics and questions as launching points for making entries in the jounral.

I read the chapter about romantic relationships with special interest. As a twenty-something professional, I considered the text from the viewpoint of a mentor or parent who is concerned about a youngster, as well as from my not-too-distant viewpoint as a rebellious teenager who was just knew she much smarter than her own parents. Well, it works. This is not a preachy book, so the reviewer below who found it non-abstinence-insistent was right. The text encourages parents and daughters to have open discussions (with specific topics and starting points), so that the daughter can form her own personal boundaries. If a tween girl drafts her own idea of boundaries and limits, with her own healthy reasoning, instead of being berated by parents and adults, she is going to follow them more intensely. One discussion topic is female sexuality in popular media, with the "shock" of Judy Blume's Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret in the 1970's and Eve Ansler's Vagina Monologues in the 1990's. Just reading that section makes me want to go back and talk to my 50-year-old mother about her experiences in the sixties versus her experiences raising me and taking me to sex education seminars with the Girl Scouts. I imagine it will raise healthy, bonding dialogue for parents of the next generation, too.

Buy this worthwhile book, a package of sticky note tabs, a blank journal, and prepare for some open, important discussions in a well-structured, non-threatening environment.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

To be respected, girls need to know how they want to be treated, treat themselves that way, and let others know (respectfully, of course) to do the same. This smart, savvy book helps teen girls get respect and hold on to it no matter what. It covers topics they deal with daily, like body image, family, friends, the media, school, relationships, and rumors. It confronts tough issues like sexual harassment, date rape, sex, drugs, and alcohol. And it debunks the myths and stereotypes that hold girls back. Sidebars, scenarios, quotes from teens, tips, definitions, activities, and writing exercises get girls' attention and keep them involved. The understanding, supportive "big sister" style inspires trust. Girls learn that respect is connected to everything, that every girl deserves respect, and that respect is always within reach because it starts on the inside.

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