The Curse of the Good Girl

As a mother helping raise three daughters, I have become distinctly aware of the influence media has on females.  My concern has grown as my step-daughters have moved in with the family that includes my three year old daughter.  The barrage of media influences are damaging to our daughters - to females in general.  The images we see and behaviors we witness through the constant flood of media is overwhelming and the messages are difficult to process.  

These images and influences don't just affect our daughters, they affect us as well.  What mother doesn't read a magazine about another "Super-Mom" and wonder why we can't live up to that standard?  How many of you have flipped through a magazine only to gaze at the perfect skin of an airbrushed model or body shape of some famous figure with three children?  As a grown woman, who knows reality (and how it is airbrushed into fantasy), we are still wondering how to attain the unattainable for those few moments.  How can we expect our daughters not to be affected when it affects us?

Now, this might seem like a tangent, but it isn't - I promise.  I am a sorority girl through and through.  Kappa Delta Sorority.  Now before you stop reading, or roll your eyes in judgement (we do that to each other - I know!), let me tell you what Kappa Delta is doing.  Have you heard of the Confidence Coalition? It is a fantastic beginning.  The Confidence Coalition has banded corporations, organizations, and groups together to say, "We want to help girls, young women, and grown women be confident, successful members of society.  We want women to like themselves!"  That is awesome!

The Confidence Coalition introduced me to Rachel Simmons.  I had heard of her book Odd Girl Out, but through this information, I also found The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence.  I am going to read this book and blog about it.  There is an introduction, followed by twelve chapters and an epilogue.  That means there will be a minimum of fourteen blog entries about this book.  I will reflect on what the information means to me as a mom and educator.  I hope you will consider joining me for this informal book study.  I think discussing these issues is crucial to becoming a better woman, mother, wife, and friend.