Packaging Girlhood
by Sharon Lamb, Ed.D., and Lyn Mikel Brown, Ed.D
Published by St. Martin's Press
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Reviewed by Andrea Sisco
Subtitled: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes
Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes should be required reading for all parents. I would go even further--it should be required reading for everyone, because the girls who are being bombarded by the media have brothers, uncles and aunts, cousins, grandparents and friends who probably are buying into the marketing schemes--and should also be educated.
Girls are targeted with $12 billion annually in order to encourage them to buy certain clothes, make-up, books, movies and magazines. As a result, they are encouraged to grow up too fast, embrace what's 'in,' focus on the external (which includes their appearance) and compete (negatively) with other girls.
The authors cover vast territory in educating us about the media's focus on girls: what girls wear, what girls watch on television and in movies, what girls listen to, what girls read and what girls do (play).
The authors go one step farther in their effort to educate and that is what makes this book special. They give suggestions that parents or adult care givers can use to engage a child in talking and thinking about the stereotypes they are bombarded with daily.
You'll never watch a movie, read a book, listen to music or shop again without thinking about how the marketplace impacts that special girl in your life.
Armchair Interviews says: Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes is an eye-opener.