Redefining Girly: How Parents Can Fight the Stereotyping and Sexualizing of Girlhood, from Birth to Tween

By Melissa Wardy

Containing practical, specific parenting advice; strategies for effecting change with educators, store managers, corporations, and more; and tips for challenging and changing the media, this essential guide gives parents the tools they need to fight back against the modern stereotyping and sexualization of young girls.

Activist Melissa Wardy shares tangible advice for getting young girls to start thinking critically about sexed-up toys and clothes while also talking to girls about body image issues. She provides tips for creating a home full of diverse, inspiring toys and media free of gender stereotypes, using consumer power to fight companies that make such major missteps, and taking the reins to limit, challenge, and change the harmful media and products bombarding girls.  

Redefining Girly provides specific parenting strategies, templates, and sample conversations and includes letters from some of the leading experts in education, psychology, child development, and girls’ advocacy.

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Heart of Gold Girls

Explore your dreams ~ Share your vision ~ Design your future....

WHAT IS HEART OF GOLD?

Heart of Gold is a supportive online environment which provides girls with the tools, information, and inspiration to explore and connect with their personal passion, be innovative and creative risk-takers, engage in entrepreneurship, volunteerism and social activism, and design the future of their dreams.

Aimed at girls ages 13 and up, Heart of Gold uses its unique approach, practical girl-focused content, and inventive, interactive environment, to deliver on its mission while focusing on 4 distinct areas:

Entrepreneurship: In our Entrepreneurship channel, girls find in-depth, how-to information on all aspects of starting and building a business; inspiring profiles of successful women and teen entrepreneurs; access to entrepreneurial experts for Q&A; and opportunities for sharing ideas, creating support, and connecting with like-minded girls.

Social Activism: Our  Activism channel provides changemakers with information and resources for promoting their causes from a position of strength and confidence; a place to spread the word about the issues they care about most; profiles of outstanding social change agents; and a supportive environment where the values of social responsibility are fostered and embraced.

Volunteerism: Heart of Gold’s Volunteering channel focuses on generosity and giving back, and offers ideas for helping girls choose volunteer activities that allow them to explore their passions while having a true impact; strategies for translating volunteer experience into real-world goal setting and achievement; an interactive tool for identifying volunteer opportunities in their community; and inspirational profiles of other teen volunteers.

Self-Exploration and Self-Care: Heart of Gold knows that girls who take care of themselves – mind, body, and soul – are more likely to reach for and achieve their dreams. In our Lifestyle section, girls are provided with confidence-building strategies to boost their self-esteem; practical advice on goal-setting and college and career planning; and self-care information with a special focus on health and wellness. Lifestyle also reviews appropriate books, movies, TV shows, and other media.

Learn more at www.heartofgoldgirls.com. 

The eGirls Project

The eGirls Project is a 3-year research project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), under its Partnership Development Programme.

The Project is investigating the relationship between gender, privacy and equality in online social networking and is focused on better understanding the perspectives of girls and young women in relation to these issues.

What eGirls Project is interested in:

Girls and young women rely on a vast array of technologies to keep in touch with their friends and family and to explore the world and their place in it.  Participating in the online world certainly lets them share their lives with each other but it also requires a significant amount of self-disclosure to others, simply as the price of admission.  As a result, online social spaces provide opportunities for young women to create, expand and explore their own identities while at the same time constructing anew what it means to “be a girl”.

Learn more at  www.egirlsproject.ca. 

Be Prepared Period

I recently discover a truly cool site for parents of daughter and young girls.  I think of how great this would have been when I was young!

Did you know that today girls are hitting puberty at a younger age than ever before?

A site about periods, you say? Is that really necessary? After all, isn’t that what parents and sex education classes are for?

The truth is that nothing can be further from the truth. 

In fact, for girls and their parents, no matter how loving and involved, ‘growing up’ can be a difficult, confusing albeit beautiful phase of life - that is often misunderstood and laced with silent shame. Especially when it comes to sexual development and periods.

So one intuitive and determined mother, finding herself in the midst of puberty with her own daughter decided to do something about it. She found it conflicting that there was nothing on the market that she could give to her daughter, to mark this special time in her life. So she created one, and she made a vow to go one-step further!

To also educate. 

To make resources for parents and girls readily available and easily accessible, as they SHOULD BE. To ease the transition so it becomes one of empowerment rather than shame – of celebration rather than confusion.

And most importantly, to spread the word, so that ALL girls and ALL parents could benefit from the truth about menstruation and puberty, which starts with the fact that it is 100% normal and completely natural. (And these days, starting earlier than ever)

Branching Out – How Be Prepared Period Has Grown –

What started out as a homegrown business to provide girls with a special gift that they could be given when they started their periods has turned into a full throttle platform to raise period awareness and ensure that girls and parents readily find the information and resources that they need, when they need it.

Since development, Be Prepared Period has added the following enhancements to their site, with many more planned in the future!

• Constant flow of new and accurate information for girls and parents throughout all pages of the website. With girls now experiencing puberty at younger ages than ever before, many parents and children are completely unprepared. The information on the site is compassionate, and designed for everyone involved.
• Specific areas for parents and other women to share their personal stories about puberty and menstruation, which can be the best way for young girls, women and parents to feel like they are not alone in their worries and struggles.
• The steady introduction of new products, many of which are organic, natural and eco friendly so parents, young girls and women can find the best products for them.
• Convenient monthly subscription offers for the delivery of feminine hygiene products which avoids ‘embarrassing’ trips to the store and ensures that all girls (of all ages) have what they need.
• Availability of gift certificates, which makes supplying a loved one with supplies discreet and easy.
• Blogs, Monthly Tweet Chats, Giveaways, and Savings all geared to empowerment and education.
• PeriodTalk, an online Question & Answer forum covering all period and puberty related topics.

Another extremely important aspect of Be Prepared Period’s growth and mission is to reach as many girls, women and parents as possible – on a global scale, so that nobody feels alone, anguished, or confused when it comes to menstruation.

In so many cultures around the world, menstruation is seen as a momentous and celebratory time, in which a young girl takes her first step across the bridge of womanhood.

Be Prepared Period is determined to bring that same sense of sanctity about puberty and menstruation to girls across the globe. We strive to work with like-minded individuals and organizations who believe in helping others. If you are one of them, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Most recently, we have partnered with You-ARE-Loved, a non-profit, which is helping to save the lives of girls around the world by raising awareness about Toxic Shock Syndrome. Through this alliance, monthly tweet chats have been launched which expand our ability to reach and educate parents and girls about everything they need to know to not just ‘get through’ this phase of life….but to blossom.

Learn more at http://www.bepreparedperiod.com/.d you know that today, girls are hitting puberty at a younger age than ever before? 

Did you know that today, girls are hitting puberty at a younger age than ever before?

Prom Dress Give-Away: Rosie True Helping Their Community

It's all about the dress!  
Or is it?


High school prom is a time that many teenage girls have waited a lifetime for.

• Will that special boy ask them to go? 
• Will they go with a group of friends?
• What will they wear?
• Who will do their hair and make-up?

One business owner in Jacksonville Beach, Angie Sparks, decided to donate 10 prom dresses to local high school students through a contest.  According to First Coast News, Angie Sparks said it was always her dream to open up a boutique. Now, she has two shops: Rosie True in Riverside and in Jacksonville Beach.
How does the contest work?


Do you know a friend, student, sister, coworker or yourself, etc. who needs us. This is about a special pick me up for someone you care about; it’s about lifting a girl up for a day and creating confidence, joy and memories! Maybe she doesn’t have the opportunity to get a prom outfit on her own; maybe she’s unsure what to choose because she doesn’t feel good about herself.


Here’s where you come in! Help a sister out! NOMINATE and WIN!
Fill out the form completely and remember the essay is the most important part. We LOVE your great stories. - Rosie's True Dream Team


Learn more about the contest rules here and watch the video.

May all your dreams come Rosie True!

Visit www.rosietrue.com.

Read more.

When Big Issues Happen to Little Girls: How to Prepare, React, and Manage Your Emotions So You Can Best Support Your Daughter

The average fifth-grade girl knows a cutter, a classmate with Asperger's syndrome, or has a friend with two fathers. Issues like these are big, and they are just drops in the bucket. A generation ago, we worried more about kidnapping and divorce than cyberbullying and prescription-drug abuse. With little personal experience in the new, complex issues that plague our daughters on a daily basis, how can parents today help their girls cope better and raise a generation of girls who are resilient and self-confident instead of insecure and confused? This book answers that question with concrete action steps and easy-to-follow talking points that help parents keep the lines of communication open and better support their daughters.


Author Erin A. Munroe, LMHC, who has been counseling adolescents for more than a decade, is in a unique position to help parents understand how girls cope and react to stressors and adult-size problems today, so they can be active and effective participants in their daughters' reality. When Big Issues Happen to Little Girls also helps parents learn about themselves and control their own emotional responses to the big issues their daughters face, including:

· Sexuality, sexual orientation, STDs, and pregnancy
· Mental health issues and learning disabilities
· Bullying, peer pressure, and cyberbullying
· School anxiety, social anxiety, and other phobias
 Substance use and abuse and the newest addictions
· High expectations for young girls that often cost them their childhood

Raising girls is a big responsibility. Let When Big Issues Happen to Little Girls become your twenty-first-century parenting strategy and give your daughter the gift of resiliency and confidence that she is deserving and capable of experiencing.

Order today on Amazon.

Sue Scheff: Girl World Tour 2010

Moms & daughters (ages 8-14) are invited to join Rosalind Wiseman, an internationally-recognized author, mom and expert on teens & parenting for a fun-filled evening of mother-daughter bonding.


In addition to celebrating Rosalind's latest books, the tour will feature an interactive discussion about confidence, friendships, sweat-inducing moments and common mother-daughter challenges. A Q&A session and book signing will follow. The two-hour event is sure to get mothers and daughters talking, laughing and connecting.

Girl World Tour 2010 is kicking off in St. Louis, MO. Sponsors include Dove and Family Circle. Check out the event details as well as the list of cities Rosalind will be appearing in. Please check back often as new cities are added and additional information becomes available! Contact Emily Bartek with any questions at 202-545-0633.

Watch video and slideshow.  Also on Examiner.

Being an educated parent is being a prepared parent and that equals safer and healthier teens!

Sue Scheff: Frog Or Prince? The Smart Girl's Guide To Boyfriends

Frog Or Prince? The Smart Girl's Guide To Boyfriends
By Kaycee Jane

The frog and the prince in the title of the book are metaphors for either a healthy relationship experience or its opposite. Healthy relationship criteria will help you make better choices--for example, choosing who your boyfriend is, and whether to stay in a relationship or to exit. They'll help you figure out other important stuff like whether or not your boyfriend loves you and if jealousy is a sign that he does. And they'll help you deal with things that come up in relationships, such as a boyfriend not making enough time for you, flirting with other girls, cheating on you, or breaking up with you.


Every girl dreams of living happily ever after with her Prince-- but how do you tell a Prince from a Frog? This book follows Natalie, Meghan, Ella and Elizabeth through their relationships, as they gain the skills to determine if the guy they're with is the right guy for them. Or as one reviewer put it "it is an opportunity for the reader to identify with one or all of the four girls--Natalie, Meghan, Elizabeth and Ella--who each discover who they are or who they become when they are with their guy."

Order on Amazon.

Or visit the author's website at http://www.frogorprince.ca/

Sue Scheff: Pigtail Pals is Redefining Girly

Pigtail Pals is Redefining Girl

We are a company that offers distinctive designs on stylish, premium tees. Our colors remind girls to be bold. Pigtail Pals inspires girls to be smart, daring, and adventurous. We encourage girls to Redefine Girly!

Pigtail Pals was created by Melissa Wardy, a stay-at-home mom who wanted better options for her pre-school daughter when it came to clothes. Melissa wanted role models for her daughter that exemplified courage, intelligence, and independence.She didn't want to confine her little girl to the pink and purple world being marketed to her. When Melissa couldn't find what she wanted, Pigtail Pals was born. Pigtail Pals tries to get away from the ubiquitous pink and purple princess-diva-drama queen trend. It is our intention to show girls that they may be bold, adventurous and heroic just like the boys!A Pigtail Pal doesn't wish upon a star and wait for her prince to show up. A Pigtail Pal gets into her rocket ship and finds that star all on her own!

Visit this fun website! Learn more! http://www.pigtailpals.com/info.html

Follow them on Twitter @PigtailPals

Sue Scheff: Queen Bees Wannabes - Helping your Daughters survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and the New Realities of Girl World

By Rosalind Wiseman

Order from Amazon Today!

When Rosalind Wiseman first published Queen Bees & Wannabes, it fundamentally changed the way that adults look at girls’ friendships and conflicts. From how they choose their best friends, how they express their anger, their boundaries with boys, and their relationships with parents—Wiseman showed how girls of every background are profoundly influenced by their interactions with each other.

Now, Wiseman has revised and updated her groundbreaking book for a new generation of girls and explores:

-How girls’ experiences before adolescence impact their teen years, future relationships, and overall success

-The different roles girls play in and outside of cliques as Queen Bees, Targets, and Bystanders, and how this defines how they and others are treated

-Girls’ power plays—from fake apologies to fights over IM and text message

-Where boys fit into the equation of girl conflicts and how you can help your daughter better hold her own with the opposite sex

-Checking your baggage—recognizing how your experiences impact the way you parent, and how to be sanely involved in your daughter’s difficult, yet common social conflicts

Packed with insights on technology’s impact on Girl World and enlivened with the experiences of girls, boys, and parents, the book that inspired the hit movie Mean Girls offers concrete strategies to help you empower your daughter to be socially competent and treat herself with dignity.

Follow Rosalind Wiseman on Twitter @RosalindWiseman

Sue Scheff: Parenting Teenage Girls Today

Having raised both a daughter and a son, my experience is girls were much more challenging in their teen years, as opposed to the angel in her younger years.

Jennifer Austin Leigh, PsyD, known simply as, “Dr. Jenn,” is an award winning author, speaker and consultant to the world’s teen girls and their mothers.

Learn more from Dr. Jenn!

Welcome to the community of people committed to helping parents raise their teen daughters in the “Girls Gone Wild ” culture. This site started on http://www.drjennforgirls.com/. But so many parents had questions, I knew they needed their own site so we cloned the old one to start this one. You may still see some signs of the old site here, please bear with us. We are still knocking down, tearing out and adding.

BTW, I’m Jennifer Austin Leigh, PsyD, known simply as, “Dr. Jenn.” I’m an award winning author, speaker and consultant to the world’s teen girls and their mothers. My doctorate is in psychology. It is my mission in life to help teen girls navigate their way through the turbulent teen years with as little trauma as possible. I want them all to become wonderful women! I know parents need new tools to use in today’s world; I’ve got them for you. I’ve also got a lot of other great experts here to share their knowledge. I hope you’ll check in often and get the help you need. Any questions or concerns you’d like to see answered here, let me know. We are all here to help and support you do the toughest job on the planet… parent a teen daughter.

Learn More: http://www.parentingteengirls.com/