Peggy Orenstein has done it again. Her analysis of the "princess" and "pink" culture of girls is thought-provoking and shows depth but is also very personal-- to both her, and she makes the reader want to make changes in their own lives.
Each chapter starts with a theme, and Orenstein analyzes the theme by looking at its past, present, and perhaps the future implications for our daughters. For example, she discusses little girls and the internet. She talks about when they first started online, then the progression to tweeny sites and Facebook, and the teen implications of this exposure (i.e. all of your "friends" can see everything about you and you create a persona online -- i.e. what you LOOK like-- instead of exploring who you FEEL like as you are developing). This chapter actually made me want to reconsider my own exposure to Facebook and other online sites!
She explores her own journey to motherhood, and her own decision-making colors the book. Her major themes all touch back on the color pink and princesses and how these quite possibly (and quite likely) are stunting the creativity of our budding girls at best, and at worst making them only think of their exterior image and introducing them to such things as eating disorders and early sexuality on a grander scale than ever before.
This is a must-read if you have any interest in the subject. It is also a page-turner, and she makes her points as a researcher and mom (and woman) with alarming frequency.
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Thanks for this review. I've been curious about this book. Although I don't have a daughter (yet?) I think it is equally important to consider how and what our sons are exposed to with regards to this topic. In the same way that I think it's important to consider what our daughters are making of the 'boys are tough and strong' message that is sent.
ReplyDeleteHope that made sense. Just trying to say thanks for the review and I'll definitely be looking up the book.