self-esteem for girls

solicting input from fellow writers

I decided yesterday I am going to write a bilingual book for 15-year old girls. Here in Guatemala they celebrate a girl's preparation for arrival into adulthood with the "Quincenera," a formal acknowledgement of this difficult age. I realized that girls have very few resources to help them navigate this difficult time period, and that they are obviously full of questions. I wanted to create something simple to use that givesscientifically relevant and useful information, contains inspirational quotes, and encourages further empowerment of the self.

 

I want to cover such usual topics as STDs and pregnancy, but I want to do it in a way that honors the girls' bodies and does not make them afraid or ashamed of themselves. I want to teach them about detectign abnormalities in menstruation, because far too many with painful [and treatable] conditions such as endometriosis do not know how to tell what is normal bleeding and pain and what is not. I want to teach them to consider the realities of sexual relationships as function of healthy mutual relationships with communication being the key. I want to teach them what to do if they or a friend is raped.

 

I want to give them advice on choosing birht control methods that work for them, and teach them to be assertive in their own lives. I want to teach them what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like, and give them advice for gettign out of codependent or otherwise unhealthy situations. I want to teach them how to cultivate healthy relationships with church and God, and that questioning what others tell them is ok. I want to to essentially teach them bascis about caring for themselves before others, and cultivating their own self-esteem and talents.

 

I would like to solicit the WC for input... what would you want to see included in such a book? Do you think this is important, or have enough resources out there already covered this material?

 

Your insights appreciated. Thank you!

Reviews

[Patient Poet (Yos)]

I think it’s a wonderful idea, from a wonderful woman, I love it .... although we think that in the Internet era , all is known to everyone, all is open and that 15 YO Girls should or know everything , I do believe it’s not true.... 15 YO are really still young and need someone to advise them , give some instructions , sometimes they really don’t have anyone to ask. I know do know you and know that if there is someone that can write such a book, with all its heart and good will, with its own experience, it’s just you ... I know that you have so much to give, so much to share, I do know that the last thing you are looking for is money or faked glory ... you will write a wonderful book, You are wonderful

[Larry Dyson]

I have a wondeful friend ...a lady of color who does this on a regular basis at a shelter..she was my shared secretary and close friend since hs...so how is your book coming along?Laury

[emmajoy]

Having two young nieces, ok older - in their early twenties, we've discussed some of the points you've raised.

The suggested book would be wonderful, if of course it's readily available to ALL, not just a few. Perhaps schools, clubs or whatever could give out copies so that girls wanting to read certain details could do so in privacy. And at that point I wonder, will the book include molestation from family members?

Perhaps one can't 'teach' self-respect to young girls (or boys if it comes to that), they need to be shown then encouraged to understand they're precious, that they deserve only the best from themselves and from others.

As to self-protection, that has to be the ultimate need .. and education is the main part of that. Do your girls all have schooling? Do most come from large families and are those a result of religion or ignorance, in which case one could be treading on thin, thin ice.

You seem to have covered the usual problems and day to day happenings, but, i wonder .. is it possible for you to chat with a group of girls, maybe three or four groups to discover what they want to know, need to know. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings and all that. Sometimes giving what is needed rather than what one thinks is needed is more relevant.

Whatever you do, it will be done superbly and with a heart bigger than the sun.

Please get back to me, I'm more than willing to discuss this with you more

[Wendy Seames Garner]

As the mother of an eighteen year old girl who was car-jacked, raped and murdered, I applaud your efforts. Would she still be alive today, if she had not tried to fight off her attacker? Or is it better to fight back? Girls need to know what the best defense is.

As a young bride of almost eighteen, I was so unprepared for the world. My parents did not discuss sex or healthy relationships with me. I wasn't urged to try to go to college. I was expected to marry and raise a family. I knew the basics of sex from classes at school and a book passed back and forth between my sister and friends. But I couldn't even in my wildest nightmares have guessed the horrors of rape or the inhuman things a man could do to a woman/girl.

Good luck with your book Marie!

[Through the Gateway]

This is an outstanding idea. I sent you some of my thoughts offline and will continue to do so. I will help in any way I can!