101 Ways to Help Your Daughter Love Her Body (Paperback)

by Brenda Lane Richardson (Author), Elane Rehr (Author) "As a mom, you already know there is nothing more comforting you can give your infant than your reassuring touch..." (more)
Key Phrases: daughter love her body, boy craziness, body esteem, African American, United States, European American (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
With 101 Ways to Help Your Daughter Love Her Body, Brenda Lane Richardson and Elane Rehr have written the definitive book about body esteem for girls. These two mothers--one a journalist, the other a clinical psychologist--don't simply snarl about the ways society chips away at a young girl's self esteem via her body image. Instead, they offer fresh, practical strategies for parents to teach daughters to view their bodies lovingly in the face of enormous pressure. Body esteem, say the authors, "allows a girl to view her internal strengths, rather than her appearance, as a projection of her worth and to retain an image of her body as a whole rather than a package of distorted parts that must be dressed up and displayed to their best advantage." Each chapter is packed with specific suggestions about how parents can reframe a daughter's media-driven desire for a perfect body into a process of accepting her unique build. Among the topics: living in a fat-phobic culture, teaching body comfort with babies, why a mother's body esteem is critical, how dads make a difference, brilliant "Barbie" strategies, a crash course in the perils of puberty, the trap of "emotional eating," talking about pregnancy and periods, and how to keep her body from harm. The bold and wise counsel in this book should be read by every parent of a growing girl. --Barbara Mackoff

From Publishers Weekly
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.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1 edition (July 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060956674
• ISBN-13: 978-0060956677
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #93,330 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TREMENDOUS BOOK FOR BOOSTING SELF-ESTEEM!, September 11, 2001

By	Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Few parents with teen-aged daughters escape the frustrations of dealing, at least on occasion, with a daughter who feels she should look like the image on a fashion magazine. At this trying point in a girl's life, a great many insecurities can arise ranging from peer pressure to lack of confidence and self-esteem about appearance. Through the media, i.e. television, movies and fashion magazines, teens are often programmed to think only thin is acceptable and unless we have a the face and body of a fashion model, we will never be accepted and never be noticed.

This book is an excellent source for working with your daughter to help her understand that true beauty lies within, not on the surface. Each of us has our own unique beauty and style and rather than try to cultivate what others have achieved, we should be individualistic and cultivate what we have been given. This is a book where Mom's and Dad's can both play an active role in dealing with the often frustrating day-to-day problems of a teen-aged daughter, and by doing so, helping her feel more confident, happy and healthy, both emotionally and physically.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good start for most parents., August 20, 2001

By	A. Bouardi (San Antonio, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Anyone who is awake knows the absurd media frenzy which objectifies girls and women today more than ever. This book is an excellent helpful tool which gives certain ideas which are simple enough, but that most parents don't even realise could help with their child (boy or girl, really)and their self-possession and self-esteem. I particularly enjoyed sections dealing with allowing the child to express their real and honest feelings rather than feeling forced to express politeness even to people who impose themselves on your child. These are lessons your daughters will keep with them for life and lead a more powerful and happier life with them. Definitely check the book out!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book if you have a daughter!, March 19, 2002

By A Customer

I read about this book in People magazine and thought it sounded good. Wow! I want to buy this book for everyone I know who has a daughter. Starting from babies and moving through each stage of a girl's life, this book gives sound, quick advice in a very easy to read format to help girls love their bodies. There is also a great section for Dads too. If you have a daugher. Get this book. It is a must read.