'Girl Power'

Have girls benefited from the feminist-inspired 'girl power' culture? If so, which girls have benefited most? Can girls truly become anything they want? To address such questions, the authors draw on research with 71 girls between the ages of 12 and 16 living in and around Vancouver, Canada, and how they make sense of what it means to be a girl today. Specific topics discussed include depictions of girlhood in the media, and the contradictory nature of girls' talk when doing research with girls. The book offers suggestions for 'critical social literacy' as a classroom practice that recognizes the ways in which popular culture mediates young people's understanding of gender. An appendix briefly describes each of the girls interviewed. The book will be of interest to researchers and students in gender studies and education, as well as adult girl advocates. Currie is professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)