Hello again! Sorry about the lapse in posting, I had some scheduling kinks to work out but I should be here every Thursday from now on.

I am a major reader. I read hundreds of books every year. I love books. But out of the many that are out there, there are at least two that deserve your attention, whether you love books or are so-so about the whole written word deal.
You've at least heard of the movie Mean Girls starring Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams. The book is inspired by Rosalind Wiseman's nonfiction guide to teen girl world called Queen Bees and Wannabes. I picked up this book when I was bored at Borders last fall, and was enraptured.

Rosalind Wiseman knows teen girl culture. She talks about things I've never been able to put a name to: the "beauty pageant" judging system, how we relate to boys, the definitions of "womanhood' and "manhood" that curtail our behavior in negative ways. This book is kind-of written for mothers, but read it still. Rosalind is on the ball when it comes to understanding us.

Reading this book helped me understand a lot of what I've experienced with groups of my fellow females, and if you're a teen girl or somehow relate to teen girls, read this. It makes you stand up and say, "People shouldn't do that!" or sit down and realize, "I shouldn't do that." And you'll understand why. You'll probably not agree with her on everything, but you must read. It will help in so many ways.
Ahh, the book that started it all.

Does your mother work? Do you consider females-in-the-workplace to be a good thing? I sometimes watch Mad Men, an award-winning TV show about life in the 1960s (good show, but lots of language, sexual behavior/comments if you're on the younger side of the teen scale.) The women characters are belittled, harassed and the mothers-- work? Are you kidding?

I read this book for a research paper and fell in love. Don't be scared by the "educationese" title or think this is some stark raving fanatic from yesteryear. This book resonates (although less than it did 40 years ago.) Friedan talks about the famous "problem with no name," women feeling unfulfilled, the pressure on women to be perfect housewives. Goshdarnit, this book is incredible.

If for no other reason, read a part of Mystique simply to thank women activists for the cultural change they brought about. Sure, there are stuff we disagree on (and do gladly.) But we would never be allowed to even participate in the great conversation if it weren't for Betty Friedan and the movement that followed her. Read as tribute, young feminists.

That's all for today. I blog almost daily over at www.innovativeteen.blogspot.com, and will be here next week to examine another part of life in a quirky girl's world.