ARHS Recommended Reading Lists: Girls - Psychology

Draws on recent scientific findings to explain how the unique structure of the female brain determines how women think, what they value, how they communicate, and whom they'll love.

Investigates the destructive side of women's elite competition in gymnastics and figure skating, exposing such problems as eating disorders, stunted growth, and debilitating injuries. 'Concludes that abusive coaches and intense pressure from parents are often to blame.

A collection of writings in which girls discuss their own experiences of being bullied or bullying other girls.

A collection of writings by girls of various races, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds, ages twelve to eighteen, in which they discuss a wide range of topics relevant to their lives, including body image, boys, politics, parents, school, sex, and others.

Explains how parents can help their daughters deal with the different issues surrounding friendships, boys, gossip, and cliques as they start high school.

Looks at the problems and pressures facing adolescent girls, and suggests how to help them develop into self-assured young adults.

Presents statistics about violent behavior by girls; explores reasons for its increase, discussing cultural developments and the fact that girls are not being socialized in childhood to express their aggression in acceptable ways as boys have been; and proposes solutions.

A social history of cosmetics, looking at the ways in which women have used make-up to express their own sense of self and their role in society, and discussing the reasons why cosmetics--once primarily concocted in home kitchens--has grown to be a multi-billion dollar industry.

Describes how popular culture enforces the idea that beauty is all-important and urges readers to put images of beauty presented by the media into perspective and not be controlled by stereotypes.