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Summary: A painfully honest look at adolescent girls
Review: As I read this book, I was saddenned to see myself in some of the girls described by Pipher. Girls, she says, lose their "self" in adolescence. Why is this? What can we do about it? Although there are no definitive answers, this is an amazingly insightful book. Definitely worth reading, whether a women's studies student, or just a woman.
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Summary: More foder for Operah, Montel Williams, etc.
Review: This is the best kind of book for daytime talks, and I don't mean this in a kind way. The author make all kinds of outrageous one sided accusations like if girls are healthy, it is probably the result of the mother, if they have problems, the fathers are invariably at fault. The book is filled with these instant cheer and jeer generators, which only serves to take the reader away from real thought and either confirm all man (fathers) are bad or confirm that all female psychologists are man-haters. A truely good non-fiction stimulates thought, not base emotions and pre-existing prejudice. In short psycho-bable for the pre-converted.
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Summary: A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR PARENT(S) AND DAUGHTER
Review: Having raised three daughters from childhood to adulthood, I can honestly say that being both a counsellor and mother at times caused some confusion. When my daughters were quite small, they seemed to think I had some magical power to see inside their little heads and watch the wheels tuning. At the age of five, one of my daughters asked me what a psychologist was. When I explained, she said, "You're just like Santa, you know what we're thinking all the time!" Well, not quite, but it did work for awhile. Until they reached that adolescent age, they were careful to think only "good thoughts" for fear "Santa" would know the difference. I wish this book had been available during those years. No psychology in the world prepares you for when the bedroom door slams shut, and with raging hormones in overload, your teenaged daughter proclaims, "but all the other kids can stay out as late as they want, and they never have to do their homework!" There is only one thought worse than that, and that is knowing that if you do actually knock on the door and gently ask to speak with her, the only way you will ever clear a path through the monsterous array of clothes, CD's and empty potato chip bags is with a bucket loader and swat team! I was looking for just the right book to recommend to parents who are enjoying all the pain and joy of those adolescent years, as well as one that might also help their teenaged daughters understand why they feel they way they do. The book is well researched, informative and the author has a unique and interesting style. As you read through the pages, it is important to remember adolescent years do not last forever...they just seem like they do.
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Summary: Understanding our daughter so we can guide her.
Review: Reviving Ophelia was important for me to read because, as a father, I was confused by my daughter's actions and her reactions. My wife shared this book with me and another book called "For All Our Daughters" by Pegine Echevarria. Mary Pipher opened my eyes to the issues confronting not only my daughter but her friends. I didn't realize all that she was dealing with. More importantly it has made me more aware and compassionate to her needs. She is a great kid and I admire her, although I do get confused by her ups and downs. This book and the helpful how to information described in Ms. Echevarria's book will enable me be more understanding to my daughter...I hope.
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Summary: true to life
Review: As a mother, I read this because I wanted to see how I could help my daughter deal with life when she became a pre-teen. As a woman who graduated from high school in 1991 at the age of eighteen, I saw myself in many of the case studies and was astounded at Dr. Pipher's insight into what causes these characteristics to appear in young girls. I had revelations about my former self and thought, 'Yes! So that is why I acted the way I did!' It all seemed to finally make sense. I think that all mothers of daughters should read this book and that, if willing, teenage daughters should read this as well. Maybe it will help them through some tough times.
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Summary: Wow.
Review: Interesting, provocative, haunting. Just a few of the words which describe this incredible book. It awakens you to the frightening reality, the immense challenges faced by females today. I first read it when I was 11, and it made a big impression on me. I don't think I will forget it any time soon.
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Summary: girls1
Review: Reviving Ophelia: In reading the book Reviving Ophelia: Saving The Selves of Adolescent Girls, Mary Pipher (1994) appears as the Margaret Mead of the 1990's teenage culture. Dr. Pipher (1994) uses the image of Ophelia as a metaphor for today's adolescent girls. She has a daughter and was seeing other adolescent girls in therapy sessions (Pollock, 1998). Her research illustrates why western civilization is a precarious place for teenage girls to live In the book, Dr. Pipher (1994) concludes that we live in a girl-poisoning culture and talks about the cultural changes in the last decade that has made America a traumatic place for teenage girls' (p. 12). Dr. Pipher (1994) believes that girls become female impersonators' who try to fit their world and selves into a small crowded space (p. 23). However, Dr. Pipher (1994) in Reviving Ophelia does seem to present the facts in both a compassionate and surprising way. She discusses adolescent girl's relationships with their mother, father and their peers. Each section in the book on theory is further substantiated through case studies. Dr. Pipher (1994) illustrates many of her client's junior high school years, when they became unable and unwilling to articulate their problems. Most of the case studies seemed to deal with the developmental level, a lookism or capitalistic view so to speak, which is the evaluation of a person based on their appearance. She also discusses teenage struggles with the expectation to distance their selves from their parents (Pipher, 1994). The theory does discuss how teenagers are encouraged to break away from their family's and become more of their own person (Pipher, 1994). However, many therapist would argue that adolescent is a time when teens actually need the family's moral support and ability in order to cope with societal influences. The case studies are somewhat interesting; from the girls, whose parents are strict and controlling, the girls who are into eating disorders, to the girls that are in the middle of bitter divorce and custody cases. The overall general theory presented in the book could be applied to both teenage girls and boys (Pipher, 1994). From a personal experience, moving away from home at the age of seventeen while completing high school made myself more independent and self-reliant. Accepting myself without any peer influences, my identity was based on other factors, such as strength of character and humor. Having belonged to various social groups in junior high and remaining active, then running in peer groups during high school, adjustment came easy. Appearance was important back then, but it seems even more important today. Even in what is suppose to be the liberating times of feminism, aren't girls suppose to be voicing their opinions about being victims of femininity and being womanized? So, what has happened, why aren't teenage girls in society today thinking about their selves? Times have not changed that much since the 1970's, we are just now becoming aware of the teenage process of development. Which in turn could led mother's to become prepared for the emotional departure of their daughters, as these daughters strive to become more autonomous. What about parents? Parents should be willing to confront and challenge any sexist training, so they will not devalue or discount their precious daughters. Parents need to understand their daughters want and deserve to remain emotionally involved in their lives. They may even need to keep their girls involved in group activities outside of school. Parents should also realize that the years of adolescence is the first time girls are grasping to fit into the various definitions of feminist in our society (MelnikNotes, 2001). There are few strong female role models remaining for girls today, so girls now look to the media for their images with its array of rock stars and models. Like the Britney brigade: the Britney impact is everywhere, from tube tops, hip huggers, spandex and glitter makeup. Walk around any shopping mall, and you will see mirror images of Britney everywhere. Mothers could possibly help their daughters challenge this image by encouraging their teenage daughters to become more critical of the media and feminism. According to one adolescent girl named Sarah, "we compare ourselves to Britney, which most of the time makes us feel bad because we don't match up" (Brice et al., 2001). For many girls the pressure to look good begins at an earlier age. Now, five-year-old girls are getting together for nail and glamour parties, which typically features a manicure and makeup session (Brice et al., 2001). Some peers may even began worrying about their weight as early as fourth grade. According to statistics, 5-10% of post-puberty girls have eating disorders, which is a devastating and dangerous reality (Pace, 2001). In conclusion, too often as they enter adolescence, girls learn to keep their thoughts to themselves, for fear they will be rejected. Girls need to learn how to remain true to their selves and to accept their bodies and appearance. To base their identity on other features, such as intelligence, humor and strength of character. To resist others' attempts to evaluate and define them by appearance only. Parents can help young girls reach their potential, simply by asking questions and staying involved. By focusing more on their abilities and strengths, giving girls the option to dance, swim and learn the arts. More importantly, we must recognize that our interest in the welfare of girls means the world to them. We need to maintain an openness and a sense of confidentiality, while being aware of any behavioral warning signs. Reviving Ophelia offers hope and proof that adolescent girls can and do survive in today's society.
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Summary: A Brilliant Collection of Tales
Review: I am a fifteen year old girl who read "Reviving Ophelia" when I was thirteen because my father was teaching it in one of his English classes and I had nothing better to do than read a book on the particular day that I picked it up...I didn't know what to think at first; it was just a book lying on the kitchen table, but once i began reading it, I became intrigued. Girls my age were exposing their stories, and I was slowly coming to see what was happening around me through the eyes of Mary Bray Pipher, and I was coming to understand aspects of my life that I not only had not understood before, but had not even thought about before. Reading Reviving Ophelia made me more aware of what was happening around me. I had recently gone through a horrible bout with depression, and had basically closed myself in my room and wouldn't come out for weeks at a time, choosing what now seems to have been a semi-eternal sleep over a life. I had ordered my family not to tel anyone that I had been depressed, since I honestly didn't think thats what it was, as I couldn't see that i had experienced any traumatic events. I thought it was more than likely some illness. A very persistant virus of some sort. Then I read Reviving Ophelia. By reading wise words conserning stuborn young girls like me, I realized that perhaps depression didn't require five family deaths in a month and the brutal murder of a friend in order to appear in seemingly normal people (one of which i considered myself). I realized that there is no such thing as a normal person, and that the most important thing to remember when dealing with the horrors of adolescence is, as Shakespeare put it, "To thine own self be true."
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Summary: Have an Open Mind
Review: I heard about this book awhile ago and thought it was time I picked it up and read it. Hi my name is Marie and though you do not know me we all share similar experiences. I say that because, there are those of you who do not relate to this book what so ever, but, there are a majority who do. I was one of those girls and I never was able to see anyone until this past year when I felt something eating me up inside. I had changed 180% from who I felt I used to be like and I did not like it. So with counseling and reading this book I am finding myself again and it is quite amazing. There are patterns that girls go through yet no one knows quite how to handle them or the girls behind those irrational thoughts and feels. Mary gives everyone ways of looking at different situtions and how everyone can be so different yet share the same problems. I loved this book from start to finish and I have expressed to my husband that I would really like him to read it, not just for the children we might have but for himself because he was never able understand the trials and the pressures that the girls were going through.
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Summary: High School thoughts
Review: I am in a reading group in my high school English class and our goup decied to read this book. We all aid that the book was helpful for young and misguided teenage woman. Everybody can relate to one of the chapter in the book. But when we all came back together to dissuse the book and your felings on it, the response was not all that good. We feel that the author had had picked the main things that stop and withhold woman in todays society. But it also seemd not as realistic as the the group had thought. We know that it is based upon real people and their problems, but it just did not fit with the thing that are happing now. What I mean by that is in our city we do have those problem (like every town in the world) but there was nothing about teen age prengnacy which has been on the rise throught the nation. Another topic that we feel was left out was interracial realationshps. Most kids have trouble with the fact of it and comming to execpt that not eveyone will be happy for them. In all, the book is a godd explainr on the topics the author has chosen. She does go into godd enough detail without repating the same stuff. Its a god book .
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