Author(s): Lynmara Colon and Adam Welcome
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Subject/Scope/Type of Book: Nonfiction. Real truths. Research based. True stories/accounts. Perfect for anyone blessed to know a young girl today. Educators. Parents. Grandparents. And an eye opener for anyone in marketing.
Prior Knowledge/Experience:
I think it would be fair to first point out several factors.
- I come from a long family line of independent and strong women.
- I am a proud member of the 244th graduating class of the Philadelphia High School for Girls.
- This book pretty much took me down a wonderful memory filled journey of my time in high school.
- This is just a little snippet of what it's like to be a Girls High Girl. I could post pages and pages about Girls High.
- I was the first girl in 150 years at Girls High to take on a leadership role as Editor in Chief of the school newspaper, The Iris --- two years in a row. Typically, this is only a role for seniors. I took it on as a junior and continued with it.
- Glass ceiling? What glass ceiling?
- I am still, to this day, in touch with many of my GHS sisters. I would not be the woman I am today if it were not for my experiences at Girls High.
Summary:
We need to be careful about the messages we are sending to our girls today. From careers to crying and from life choices and finding our voices. Our girls are here and there's more to being female than looking pretty and having the babies. There's nothing wrong with wanting a career over a job. As adults, we have tremendous power. We need to make sure that our girls truly know their worth in an ever changing and incredibly judgmental world.
Reactions:
I found this book to be a fast read. Several times over you could probably hear me shouting out an "AMEN!" or a "Damn right!"
First of all, the foreword. Oh my gosh. Shelly Burgess. Can I just say....
And not just like, "Oh wow! Good point!" More like .... "Oh no she didn't....oh yes... yes, she did!" The foreword alone sucked me in. Then when I got to experience the words of Lynmara and Adam... I just could not stop reading!
The book really did make me feel like I was at home. I fondly remembered my Career Days at Girls High, the tribe of mentors I had in high school and even now. I found myself deeply touched by each chapter, especially when the authors talked about the power of courage and the sanctity of crying. I found myself relating because... well... I cry. I used to get really down on myself because society teaches us that crying is a sign of weakness. Being sensitive isn't a strength. This past year, my principal (MALE) reminded me that being sensitive is not a sign of weakness and crying is a sign of strength .
And while a trip down memory lane is all well and good -- I need to be thinking about my girls.
First of all - if you think society has "moved past" judging girls vs boys - you are wrong. Here's a photo to prove it:
My daughter will be four in September. In shorts (specifically) she wears a size 2T. On the left is her wearing a pair of girl shorts. On the right, she is wearing a pair of boy shorts. Both size 2T. The girl shorts are.... shorter. They're not functional for her for several reasons but mainly because she's a climber and loves to explore. One trip up a tree or down a slide in these shorts and it's not going to end well. If you look close enough... the boy shorts are not only longer - they're thicker. They're practically safer. They are definitely longer. And they have pockets.
My daughter is gorgeous. Seriously. She is. She has this stunning smile, these big blue eyes, and fair skin. Do I tell her she is beautiful? Yes! But do you know what I tell her more? I tell her that I love her more than I tell her that she is beautiful. I tell her that she is smart far faster than I tell her that she's pretty. I compliment her achievements far more than her fashion. I don't want to think her only worth is her physical appearance. There's so much more to my Nora. And the world will know that because she's quite assertive and quite confident in herself.
Me on left. Nora on right.
Nora rocking her new jammies.
I not only need to think about my girl, my biological girl.... but this book really has me "all up in my feelings" about how to talk to my GIRLS at school. I'm already brainstorming ways to have girl chats and boy chats. I'm thinking of strategies to help gals find their voice. I want to talk to current and former female students and ask them what message did I send them.... what lessons beyond the curriculum did they learn....what is it they wished they knew before leaving high school and entering the very real (and often very painful) world.
This book will open your eyes.
This book will make you think.
And I can almost guarantee you that you will never see a toy section of a store the same again. Seriously. Go check it out... after you buy this book. Buy it. Don't borrow it. It's important enough to own. Trust me.
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