View the Table of Contents. Read the Introduction.
"This book opens discussion related to the female gender role
and the socialization of girls in many different, thought provoking
ways, and serves as a timely critique of the current societal
messages directed toward girls."
--"Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy"
"Brown declares that to change the patterns of female animosity
we must address the social environment as well as the
individual."
--"Women's Review of Books"
"Brown's book, however, is a clear departure from the film [Mean
Girls] stereotypes about dumb, mean, backstabbing girls."
--"Waterville, Sunday Morning Sentinel"
""Girlfighting" is a serious and intelligent analysis of the
cruelty and meanness involved in girls' relationships at each stage
of development."
--"Pyschiatric Services"
aLyn Brown gives us a wider, different, and eye-opening view of
the problem. . . This is the smartest book on mean girls
around.a
--Sharon Lamb, author of "The Secret Lives of Girls"
aWhen it comes to girlsa issues, there arenat many people more
expert than Lyn Mikel Brown.a
--"Daughters magazine"
"Brown provides an excellent resource, thorough and readable.
Women can find their history in this book."
--"VOYA"
aThe book is a good contribution to the discussion...a
--Metapsychology
.,."Brown does an excellent job of continually casting girls'
struggles in the larger frame of social and cultural disadvantages
and the narrow role possibilities that supress their
authenticity."
--"Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal"
For some time, reality TV, talk shows, soap-operas, and sitcoms
have turned their spotlights on women andgirls who thrive on
competition and nastiness. Few fairytales lack the evil stepmother,
wicked witch, or jealous sister. Even cartoons feature mean and
sassy girls who only become sweet and innocent when adults appear.
And recently, popular books and magazines have turned their gaze
away from ways of positively influencing girls' independence and
self-esteem and towards the topic of girls' meanness to other
girls. What does this say about the way our culture views girlhood?
How much do these portrayals affect the way girls view
themselves?
In Girlfighting, psychologist and educator Lyn Mikel Brown
scrutinizes the way our culture nurtures and reinforces this sort
of meanness in girls. She argues that the old adage "girls will be
girls"--gossipy, competitive, cliquish, backstabbing-- and the idea
that fighting is part of a developmental stage or a
rite-of-passage, are not acceptable explanations. Instead, she
asserts, girls are discouraged from expressing strong feelings and
are pressured to fulfill unrealistic expectations, to be popular,
and struggle to find their way in a society that still reinforces
gender stereotypes and places greater value on boys. Under such
pressure, in their frustration and anger, girls (often
unconsciously) find it less risky to take out their fears and
anxieties on other girls instead of challenging the ways boys treat
them, the way the media represents them, or the way the culture at
large supports sexist practices.
Girlfighting traces the changes in girls' thoughts, actions and
feelings from childhood into young adulthood, providing the
developmental understanding and theoretical explanation often
lacking in other conversations. Through interviewswith over 400
girls of diverse racial, economic, and geographic backgrounds,
Brown chronicles the labyrinthine journey girls take from direct
and outspoken children who like and trust other girls, to
distrusting and competitive young women. She argues that this
familiar pathway can and should be interrupted and provides ways to
move beyond girlfighting to build girl allies and to support
coalitions among girls.
By allowing the voices of girls to be heard, Brown demonstrates
the complex and often contradictory realities girls face, helping
us to better understand and critique the socializing forces in
their lives and challenging us to rethink the messages we send
them.
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