Strong, Smart, and Bold: Empowering Girls for Life (Foreword by Jane Fonda)
by Carla Fine

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Book Reviews of Strong, Smart, and Bold: Empowering Girls for Life (Foreword by Jane Fonda)

Book Review: Helpful Ideas for Parents of Daughters!
Summary: 5 Stars

Give this book to parents when their daughters are born.

The foreword by Ms. Jane Fonda particularly moved me. She describes how she went from being a person with strong ambitions to a teenager who was timid and concerned about how others would see her. For many years, her "inner voice" was lost, and she finds herself only recapturing it in her sixties.

The model of this book is to have girls know their rights as people and to be advocates of those rights for herself and others. Girls Inc. was founded in 1945 and has done good work in helping establish equal opportunity by gender.

The organization has established a bill of rights for girls that includes the right to:

-- "be themselves and to resist gender stereotypes"

-- "express themselves with originality and enthusiasm"

-- "take roles, to strive freely, and to take pride in success"

-- "accept and appreciate their bodies"

-- "have confidence in their selves and to be safe in the world"

-- "prepare for interesting work and economic independence."

Many people would agree that these are worthy goals. What I liked was that the book reported about research that Girls Inc. has conducted to find out how parents can help.

As you may have guessed, girls look to their Moms to lead the way. In a recent survey, 99 percent replied that Mom was their heroine and guide to planning their own lives. By describing her own life choices at the same age, Mom can help make these transitions more understandable and positive.

Further, Mom and Dad can work together to emphasize filling in experiences and knowledge that girls might not otherwise get. Why shouldn't girls find out how cars work? Sons will often benefit from the same instruction. I know I would have.

Unlike many books and research on gender issues, this book does not try to make males out as the villain of the problem. Instead, the book emphasizes how girls can become more knowledgeable, confident, and able to take care of themselves. I was especially impressed with the section called "My Future."

After you read and discuss this book, I suggest that you think back to where you lacked support (whether you were a girl or a boy) as a youngster. Will your children have the same issues? If so, how can you help them have better choices and capabilities? What other issues will your children have that you did not? How can you help with those?

Give your children the benefit of thinking through their lives carefully and knowledgeably . . . with as few limits as possible!

Nonfiction Books

• Parenting & Families