Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes (Paperback)

~ Sharon Lamb Ed.D. (Author), (Author) "Girl or boy?" is almost always the first question people ask when they hear about the birth of a baby..." (more)
Key Phrases: immersive advertising, princess movies, middle school girls, Limited Too, African American, Hilary Duff (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. That girls are overwhelmed by images of princesses, demure femininity and pink, pink, pink is no surprise. What is shocking, as Lamb (The Secret Lives of Girls) and Brown (Meeting at the Crossroads) so astutely demonstrate, is the downright bombardment girls receive, coming from all forms of media. Lamb and Brown, both psychologists, came to harsh conclusions after they surveyed girls; sat through hours of Rugrats and Kim Possible television programming; scoured stores such as Hot Topic and Claire's; watched Hilary Duff movies; listened to Eminem and Beyoncé; visited MySpace.com; and read Caldecott books. The idea of "girl power was snapped up by the media," and "what it sells is an image of being empowered," argue the authors. Girls are offered two choices by the marketers: they are "either for the boys or one of the boys." Even rebellion is being packaged, "the resistance, that edginess and irreverence that once gave girls a pathway out of the magic kingdom." The book is incredibly readable and rises above others in the genre by giving parents concrete tools to help battle stereotypes. Lamb and Brown include lists of books and movies with positive role models and talking points to help your daughter recognize how she is being manipulated. The authors aren't trying to deny anyone princesses or pink; they just want girls to be knowledgeable enough to choose what will truly interest them. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Lamb and Brown have created high-profile careers studying and writing about adolescent girls, but in this candid overview of how culture influences girls, they say that they are writing "not as academics but as women, moms, and teachers living in a world of . . . preteen lingerie." In the following chapters, Lamb and Brown argue that American marketing patterns channel girls' desires into too-predictable and identity-damaging types, drawing examples from the clothing, TV and movies, popular music, books, and trendy activities marketed to teens. And they offer practical suggestions for discussing the issues with both middle-schoolers and older YAs. As in most overviews, some sections, such as the suggested readings for girls, may feel incomplete (particularly to librarians). Still, this is a welcome, provocative, thoroughly persuasive volume that will enlighten all readers concerned with the business of marketing and the health of teens. An excellent companion to Deborah Tolman's Dilemmas of Desire (2002), Ariel Levy's Female Chauvinist Pigs (2005), and the titles listed in the Read-alikes column "Girl Talk," in Booklist's July 2002 issue. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (May 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312370059
• ISBN-13: 978-0312370053
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,934 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" for parents of daughters! , November 11, 2006

By	Mary A. Lewis (Evanston, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes (Hardcover)

I absolutely loved this book. I read it little by little over time and discovered that this book, unlike so many others, is the product of real research, painstaking research... so I don't know how anyone can think these authors are politically correct or what. They talk about the sexualization of girls all right, but so much more -- the invisibility of girls in so many sources of media, the way girls are "dissed" (their word) in lyrics, tv shows, movies, the way girls are getting overwhelmed constantly with messages that they should be stereotypically pink and pretty from a very early age. Anyone looking for a book on sexualization of girls will find plenty of stuff here; but what's more important is that girls are being stereotyped in a whole bunch of ways that narrow their choices for the future not only by being sexualized. And parents will learn that letting their girls grow up all girl, or in that girly girl stereotype, means they will soon be sexualized by the culture -- the two are connected. You have to read the book to see why. I don't think that the authors are against pink or girly things; they just have a thoughtful response to it and plenty of suggestions and conversational material for parents.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devoured this over the weekend, February 9, 2007

By	A reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes (Hardcover)

This is not just one of the best books on gender I've read, it's one of the best books PERIOD. Well-researched, well-considered, astounding statistics, sharp uncompromising analysis, current references, great suggestions...

The intro and first chapter alone (Pretty in Pink: What Girls Wear) were worth the price of the book. I recently had someone compliment me on my kids' "matching" pink winter boots. I told her it wasn't planned - I could only find boots for mini-lumberjacks or little ladies. (They have both styles, by the way, but they sure get more comments when they're all pinked out.) About half their wardrobes as babies were pink (gifts). Isn't that excessive? If half their clothes were black, people would notice and comment, but it's just business as usual with all that sweet pink stuff.

I was surprised to read the negative review. That reader interpreted things very differently than I did. Maybe something hit too close to home, but you know what they say about the unexamined life. I had a few uncomfortable twinges myself, and finished the book wishing that my parents and other adults had been more interested - or better equipped - in helping me navigate adolescence.

I recommend the book to 1) parents of girls, 2) parents of boys who want to understand their sons' peers, 3) teachers and coaches and 4) any woman looking for insight into her upbringing.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for ALL parents, January 21, 2007

By	C. Camann (Buffalo, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes (Hardcover)

I found this book on accident at the library while I was perusing the new books, and I've checked it out 3 times since. Like all parents, I want to prepare my children as best as possible for this world. Already though I see my young daughters being pushed in the wrong direction by well-meaning relatives, friends and not so well meaning marketers. Last summer my mother sent a James Bond type bikini to my 2 year old that she bought at Wal-Mart, and this year for Christmas my girls received matching leopard printed sequined outfits. Since when were 2 year olds and 10 months old supposed to be sexy? It's very disturbing. Fortunately, this book has given me great insight and ideas on how to teach my daughters to avoid marketers traps, discertain sexist media and to become aware of how sexisim pervades our society. It also touches on how boys are suffering from marketing ploys (ie boys being represented as only wanting sex, boys being admired only for their bodies, as if boys too are just shallow, sexual husks!) I wish this book were free so that everyone could own a copy!