What a powerful interview! I teach at a public girls’ school and often struggle with the term girls. Young women is in the formal name of our school, and I struggle with that as well. It’s so complicated, and I appreciate the discussion around that. I’m looking forward to reading this book and talking with my students about it.
What a wonderful interview and I can't wait to read the book! I've been an elementary teacher for the last 14 years primarily working with Kinder, first and second grades. I too have struggled with using "girl" to describe my kiddos. Not because I don't see them as children I absolutely LOVE when my students really PLAY with each other vs choose youtube or TikTok. It's more that I feel that in my life the times when I was called "girl" or more specifically "little girl" it was so demeaning. I want to acknowledge the mature things they do while also preserving their childhood for as long as possible. Something I found myself calling my kiddos is "lady girls" usually when they would do something very grown up but also retain their 6/7/8 year old innocence and wonder. They always like it and it helps me feel like I am promoting the duality that is being child who also happens to be a female.
I've seen a bit of coverage on this book and it caught my eye over the past couple of weeks... after this interview it's crystal clear I'm going to dive in and read it cover to cover. Fascinating and so needed - thank you for sharing!!
What a powerful interview! I teach at a public girls’ school and often struggle with the term girls. Young women is in the formal name of our school, and I struggle with that as well. It’s so complicated, and I appreciate the discussion around that. I’m looking forward to reading this book and talking with my students about it.
What a wonderful interview and I can't wait to read the book! I've been an elementary teacher for the last 14 years primarily working with Kinder, first and second grades. I too have struggled with using "girl" to describe my kiddos. Not because I don't see them as children I absolutely LOVE when my students really PLAY with each other vs choose youtube or TikTok. It's more that I feel that in my life the times when I was called "girl" or more specifically "little girl" it was so demeaning. I want to acknowledge the mature things they do while also preserving their childhood for as long as possible. Something I found myself calling my kiddos is "lady girls" usually when they would do something very grown up but also retain their 6/7/8 year old innocence and wonder. They always like it and it helps me feel like I am promoting the duality that is being child who also happens to be a female.
Thank you for this interview! I can’t wait to read this book, along with my 21-year-old daughter and her friends.
I've seen a bit of coverage on this book and it caught my eye over the past couple of weeks... after this interview it's crystal clear I'm going to dive in and read it cover to cover. Fascinating and so needed - thank you for sharing!!
Thank you for sharing this interview and highlighting this book! Very interesting. I can't wait to get my copy and have some summer reading!