Beyond Appearance: A New Look at Adolescent Girls

The stereotypical adolescent girl is often portrayed by the media, at best, as uncertain and overly concerned with her appearance and, at worst, as a victim of eating disorders, declining self-esteem, and risky sexual behaviour. These stereotypes fail to capture the richness and diversity of adolescent girls' experiences. This volume presents a more balanced view of teen girls that emphasizes their strengths as well as the challenges they must meet. In this work, the contributing authors review and assess research on girls from a variety of racial and ethnic as well as socioeconomic backgrounds, searching for commonalities as well as differences. Topics explored include those at the heart of adolescence, including gender role prescriptions, body image concerns, the neglected experiences of adolescent girls of colour, relationships with family and peers, sexual decision making, experiences at school and in the community, and health and safety concerns. In the concluding chapter, the author suggests ways of improving the support psychologists and others give to adolescent girls on their developmental journey. This book should be of interest to professionals interested in this critical period of development and growth.