Girls Will Be Girls: Raising Confident and Courageous Daughters (Hardcover)

• Buy this health and fitness product by July 31 and get a one year subscription to either Women's Health or Prevention for only $5 more. That's less than $0.51 an issue for a full year. See details.
  
  

Customers buy this book with Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know by Meg Meeker M.D.

+

Price For Both: $42.12

Show availability and shipping details

• This item: Girls Will Be Girls: Raising Confident and Courageous Daughters by Joann Deak

  In Stock.
  Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
  This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
  

• Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know by Meg Meeker M.D.

  In Stock.
  Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
  Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
  

Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon 4.4 out of 5 stars (114)  $10.20

Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher 4.1 out of 5 stars (324)  $10.88

Raising Confident Girls: 100 Tips for Parents and Teachers by Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer 3.5 out of 5 stars (2)  $11.70

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber 4.5 out of 5 stars (211)  $10.15

200 Ways to Raise a Girl's Self-Esteem: An Indispensible Guide for Parents, Teachers & Other Concerned Caregivers by Virginia Beane Rutter 4.3 out of 5 stars (3)  $11.53

› Explore similar items

From Publishers Weekly
Deak, a speaker, school psychologist and educator, offers a practical and reassuring guide for parents of daughters. The introduction explains why the message of this book is so important: "Girls face an extraordinary challenge in our changing world. They are dealing with more sophisticated issues than ever before, and they are doing so with less adult contact and guidance than ever before. Statistics tell the story of a population at risk both physically and emotionally: one in four girls shows signs of depression. Compared to males, twice as many females attempt suicide...." As any parent of an adolescent or teen daughter knows, even the most straightforward conversation can quickly deteriorate into an argument, tears and frustration on both sides. Deak offers a variety of scenarios along with suggestions for improving the communication: for example, when one girl immediately says she hates her school and the family must move, the parents are sympathetic and schedule visits to some other schools. Within a few weeks, the student has adjusted to the school and in fact chooses to stay there. The approach of "Listening and acting as a sounding board can always be part of the equation...." Deak discusses the differences between fathers and daughters and mothers and daughters and also some of the more common problems faced by teens, such as body image and peer pressure. While there are no instant fixes in these often trying times, this book provides an intelligent and reasonable plan that many parents will want to consider.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
These two titles strengthen the burgeoning girl-rearing genre. A psychologist and speaker on gender equity, Deak aims to give answers to the problems raised in Mary Pipher's classic Reviving Ophelia. Quite a claim but she does it. To handle struggles with body image, self-esteem, intellectual growth, peer pressure, and media messages, Deak offers a strong framework that includes concepts like Crucible Events (defining life episodes) and the Strudel Theory (building a life with layers). That latter concept comes into play with Deak's objection to the theme of Laura Stepp's recent Our Last Best Shot: that is, if parents lose touch with their daughter during adolescence, their relationship is over. Many levels of experience make our daughters who they are; parents are never done connecting with their daughters, says Deak. Furthermore, girls need to be connected to other girls, which can, in turn, conflict with their need to compete, succeed, and find happiness. Finally, Deak deals with the newest issues of girls as manipulators/pleasers. Hers is a thoughtful philosophy based on years of counseling, research, and experience. Kelly, executive director of the national advocacy group Dads and Daughters, shares his perspective on raising girls (he is the father of twins). Although initially he goes a little overboard with his claims of a father's impact on daughters, he ultimately delivers an effective message: fathers can take an active role in raising confident daughters. As Deak also points out in her book, however, dads may have a harder time with daughters than mothers have raising sons. The teen years are especially trying for dads because of sexual issues, and Kelly expertly shows readers how to deal with them. Rather than stamp out girls' libidos, he argues, parents must help daughters recognize them. In an age of boundaries and abuse, he delineates the differences between nourishing touch and physical abuse. Live-away dads are not forgotten either. He's also open to homosexuality and tries to teach daughters new ways of coping (e.g., allowing his daughters a checking account at age 12). Michael Gurian's The Wonder of Girls describes more fully the role of intimacy, biology, and brain chemistry in girls' lives; Kelly just wants dads to know how very influential they are. Both Girls and Dads are highly recommended for public libraries. Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

First Sentence:
My friend Clara calls me every now and then with one of her "bad mother" confession stories. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
crucible events, older tween, crucible moments, friendship clusters, tween years, tween girls, work with girls, social pain, layering effect Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Carol Gilligan, Strudel Theory, Teeter-Totter Theory, North Star, United States New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Search Inside This Book:

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

10 Reviews 5 star:  (9) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.6 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   41 of 42 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, a authoritative reference, July 31, 2002 By  Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)       Enlightening, provocative and powerful, this is perhaps the most useful book on raising daughters that I have ever read. In the book Deak covers the problems, confusion, motivations and fears that are all a normal part of growing up female. But more than just noting that they exist and their basis, she also provides practical advice on how to deal with the problems in a proactive and productive manner. The book follows the expected logical pattern of moving from the basics of perspective through the normal growing up process. First are the formative years, then preadolescent, then adolescent years. Of special interest, she includes chapters on the special relationship between daughters and their mother as well as one on the relationship between daughters and their father and one of dealing with the normal fears and worries of being parents. Each chapter has comments from girls at that age or referring to the subject of the chapter as well as the defining or "crucible" events that occur during that age or relationship. If there were one book that I would recommend to anyone raising a girl in today's world, this would be the one that I would recommend. It stands like a lighthouse warning parents of dangerous shoals and how to avoid them as well as offering guidance on how to help their daughters negotiate dangerous waters and come out safe. This book truly lives up to the title and empowers parents with the tools to mold young girls into confident, courageous and well-adjusted adult women. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   21 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Finally--Sensible Advice in Readable Form!, August 4, 2002 By  Patricia E. Crone (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews Those of us who are parents/relatives, educators, or mentors of girls have become increasingly aware of the difficulties that young women face as they mature from the stage of irrepressible confidence to the insecurities of adolescence and young adulthood. And while girls do walk a constant balance beam, tilting back and forth between doing and being too much or too little, the adults in their lives are right there behind them--wondering whether they should under-react or over-react. But one thing is certain--they are reacting, often out of panic or the need to control the uncontrollable! JoAnn Deak is there on the balance beam with us all. Thanks to her experience in schools and expertise as a counselor, she presents comprehensible insights regarding physical and psychological issues, along with memorable anecdotes and solid advice to help us approach the complexities rationally. When we have finished reading, we know more about the girls and how best to support them. And we also understand more about ourselves. I've been waiting for such a book for a long time! Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   19 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars You Go Girl!, August 5, 2002 By  Christine G Cox (Far Hills, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews I truly enjoyed this practical, funny, touching and true guide to parenting girls from a real expert. She really knows how to keep your attention with real stories and get her point across with humor and detail. We can all learn how to help our girls grow up to be the women we all wanted to be. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 10 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! This is truly a much needed book. It covers a wide spectrum of ages from about 6-16. This book would have been so helpful to me when raising my own daughter who is turning 20... Read more Published 15 days ago by D. Murtha 5.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth The Read Girls Will be Girls is an excellent look at the struggles girls go through to reach adulthood, and how the adults in their lives can be there to help guide them through the murky... Read more Published 5 months ago by K. Peters 5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference for parents This book was referred to me by a child psychologist in California(helping my daughter deal with my divorce) when I was trying to get an understanding of the "tweens" behavior... Read more Published 7 months ago by Joan L. Denney 1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new here This book does not stray an inch from the usual 'Raising Daughters: For Dumb***es' formula, which consists of the following: 1) Pop-science involving the brain and... Read more Published on February 25, 2005 by Carrigan 5.0 out of 5 stars a must read A must read for anyone raising or working with young girls. And if you think this book is phenominal, don't pass up an opportunity to hear her speak. Read more Published on May 1, 2003 by nolamama 5.0 out of 5 stars Exploring Feminine Mysteries We're privileged to have Dr. Deak's experience in the crucible of girlhood, an educator/psychologist in the public school system, to inform us of the facts and... Read more Published on September 3, 2002 by Jeri Noble 5.0 out of 5 stars Great pearls of wisdom for parents of daughters! No matter how much you think your daughter will always tell you everything, think again. Even I can recall a few times while growing up, where I either kept something from my... Read more Published on July 22, 2002 by MyParenTime.com Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 10 customer reviews...

• Books > Health, Mind & Body > Personal Health > Women's Health > Pregnancy & Childbirth
• Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Household Hints
• Books > Parenting & Families > Parenting