Smart Girls: Success, School, and the Myth of Post-Feminism

Are girls taking over the world? It would appear so, based on magazine covers, news headlines, and popular books touting girls' academic success. Girls are said to outperform boys in high school exams, university entrance and graduation rates, and professional certification. As a result, many in Western society assume that girls no longer need support. But in spite of the messages of post-feminism and neoliberal individualism that tell girls they can have it all, the reality is far more complicated. Smart Girls investigates how academically successful girls deal with stress, the "supergirl" drive for perfection, race and class issues, and the sexism that is still present in schools. Describing girls' varied everyday experiences, including negotiations of traditional gender norms, Shauna Pomerantz and Rebecca Raby show how teachers, administrators, parents, and media commentators can help smart girls thrive while working toward straight As and a bright future.

Author: Shauna Pomerantz, Rebecca Raby
Publisher: University of California Press
Published: 01/03/2017
Pages: 296
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.25h x 5.50w x 0.66d
ISBN13: 9780520284159
ISBN10: 0520284151
BISAC Categories:
- Social Science | Women's Studies
- Social Science | Gender Studies
- Education | Philosophy, Theory & Social Aspects

About the Author
Shauna Pomerantz is Associate Professor of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. She is the author of Girls, Style, and School Identities: Dressing the Part and the coauthor of "Girl Power" Girls Reinventing Girlhood.

Rebecca Raby is Professor of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. She is the author of School Rules: Obedience, Discipline, and Elusive Democracy and the coeditor of Power and Everyday Practices.