Growing Up a Girl

In this six-set series, each of the books follows the same format with reference aids at the end that include essential facts, glossary, additional resources, source notes, and index. In addition, each of the books includes discussion starters at the end of the chapter, captioned color photographs, and thought-provoking text boxes. Each title in the series addresses current issues related to being female in the United States—issues such as sexism in politics and in the media, sexism at work, male privilege, and the intersectionality of sex and race. A groundbreaking exploration of being female in the U.S. that will generate rich discussion and help students understand the historical context of women’s hard-fought pursuit of equal rights. Highly Recommended.

The authors pull no punches when it comes to examining historical and contemporary forms of sexism in the United States. Each volume is steeped in statistics, research, and newsworthy anecdotes. Ingrained gender stereotypes and the differences between sexism and misogyny are explored, with insightful coverage given to gender-based violence, the objectification of girls, and the psychology behind both. Self-image and self-esteem are also thoroughly examined, as is the media’s role in proliferating unattainable ideals. Discussions on intersectionality and its necessity when evaluating the specific brand of prejudice aimed at women of color is often overlooked in books for this age group, but this series does an excellent job explaining and exploring the concept. An insightful and necessary purchase for teens.