I think I'll like anyone who likes this book! Cate, 12
| Review by Aaron Nugua Published in Altar online magazine, December 2005 Founded in 1994, The Girls Speak Out Foundation for girls ages 9-15 is the brain-child of Andrea Johnston and Gloria Steinem. The second edition of Girls Speak Out: Finding Your True Self incorporates the interactive exercises, vignettes, poems, short stories, etc. brought to you by budding feminists who have participated in the program. The scheme of this program and of this book is two fold. One objective is to amass stories of soul searching of a group of girls, while the other is to inspire more girls to magnify their struggles and triumphs in a hetero-normative world. In this book, girls "speak out" about topics that are traditionally "reserved" for adulthood. These young women exercise their girl power as they challenge male supremacy and the latent subjugation of women instituted by marriage, motherhood, religion, and education. The strength of this text is the juxtaposition of its language and subject material?accessible to the targeted age group but sophisticated and readable enough for women of all ages. This book may not stand out on the shelves without purposeful exhibition, but hopefully, Girls Speak Out will make its way into the hands of young girls around the globe with the help of veteran feminists. The content of the book is piecemeal and Johnston and Steinem could stand to use a work like Our Bodies Our Selves as a paradigmatic design for subsequent editions. In the forward and introduction, Steinem and Johnston allude to their hopes that mothers, "other mothers," aunts, and older sisters will pick up this book, review it and pass it along. Girls Speak Out covers a broad range of topics from women?s global history to maintenance of self-esteem within sexist social systems. Johnston provides a useful annotated bibliography at the back of the book. This list incorporates a culturally diverse set of authors that some young women may never encounter in public school. Look out Girl Scout leaders of America! The young women of The Girls Speak Out Foundation have seized the torch of feminism from Johnston and Steinem. Peddling cookies is not on the agenda. From India NOTE: About six years ago when she was in high school, Amulya from India read the first edition, and joined the Girls Speak Out Action Network. This is her reaction to the new edition. August 30, 2005 It felt really nice to read the new GIRLS SPEAK OUT. It reminded me of all the frustrations, the dreams, the joys? and how much I've grown. It was a beautiful experience reading it. I realized I've come a long way from what I appeared as in the book. I thought it never bothered me what others thought or did. Indeed it was sometime in college that I reached I had a peak of frustration and gave in, even if only for a minute. But I didn't like even that minute. I wondered as I was reading today how much I have changed. Have I conformed to the views of others or formed a unique self, taking only what I want and being what I want but managing not to ruffle others feathers either? The latter, I think. A friend of mine took the book to read it and we realized, it is about finding ourselves. That is what is the most important. Then comes keeping that ourselves true and allowing us to grow. We knew this before? but sometimes it is best to be reminded? and thank you for reminding me. And thank you for making me a part of it. It feels great to be in something that is so powerful. -- Amulya An email from Alisa, 16, in Namibia Dear Andrea, Our Girls Speak Out program in Namibia is going fine. I am so happy I read your book and wrote to you. People, female and male, are making big contributions. They are proud of my friends and me since we are independent women when we are still young. I believe we have more and better lives ahead of us so we don't have to rush for anything. Thank you for your support and good plans for our lives. Purchase the book at Amazon |
