Peggy Orenstein, author of several books, including Schoolgirls: Young Women, Self-Esteem, and the Confidence Gap. She is widely published in magazines an is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine. In musing on her own questions as the mother of Daisy, who is now seven years old, Orenstein holds up a mirror in which all parents of girls can see their reflection.  She thus opens questions about and exposes some of the infrastructure of the commercial culture in a uniquely accessible way.

Two essential elements that Orenstein brings to light: segregation of young children according to narrow definitions of gender as a public health issue and research (by Joan Jacobs Blumberg) about the difference between the resolutions of girls at the end of he 19th century in contrast to those of girls at the end of the 20th.  We go on to talk about the narrative that young children are hearing from popular media, the way it  is forming them in essential ways and that we have alternatives at our fingertips in the stories from our own families and cultural backgrounds.

I agree somewhat with the Salon review: this book is somewhat frustrating for what it leaves out.  My recommendation would be to read this in conjunction with  So Sexy, So Soon by Diane Levin and Jean Kilbourne (my interview with Jean Kilbourne is HERE) and Packaging Girlhood by Sharon Lamb and Lyn Mikel Brown.  Both of those books provide more in-depth research and go to the next step: practical suggestions for steps that parents can take.

Peggy’s website is www.peggyorenstein.com  Here is a link to the New York Times book review: http://is.gd/mTnYjx

Links to some of the organizations mentioned:

Sanford Harmony Program http://sanford.clas.asu.edu/

Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood: www.commercialfreechildhood.org

Hardy Girls Healthy Women: www.hardygirlshealthywomen.org

Also: New Moon Girls www.newmoon.com