Is this still how we talk/educate girls?

[ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble]

DD is not quite at puberty stage , but definitely on the way there. We talk about it quite a lot(and we have talked about bodies,periods etc since she was little) but I thought I'd get some books too that we can either read together or she can read by herself.

Luckily I read through them before giving them to her.

One of them in particular is focused on looks, repeated gorgeous,fabulous ,babe comments, matching knickers and how jeans will fit much better once you grow.

They call breasts boobs, who knows why.

AIBU that 9yos (the age they claim most girls start puberty) don't and shouldn't care about matching knickers, skin care routines or how their jeans are filled.

Was this copied out of the pages of Jackie magazine, circa 1977? Actually that might be a bit unfair to Jackie. These are horrible messages to give to girls.

I wish writers in.the old days hadn't used 'breast' so much. Doesn't matter how often I explain that 'breast' Has narrowed from meaning general chest area, it can derail a lesson. Not as much as lady macbeth plucking her nipple from her child's boneless gum, but still.

Never wanted to ban a book before this moment.

This, and books like it (sadly loads) make me want to start an activist movement against them and in support of the creation of sane, non-twee, factual books on this topic.

But didn’t we do that already? What happened to feminism?

Awful beyond words, what a negative picture of growing up. God help the girls who don't develop the generous boobs or fill their jeans.

It was reading shite like this in the 70's that made me feel totally inadequate.

Burn it OP!

@kenandbarbie - I'm #teamboobs too. That is how I think of them. My boobs. Or my mammaries if I've banged them into something and I'm mad at them.

There are certainly writers on MN (see the thread on Gillian Philip) and I am sure we could come up with a MN book about growing up that was fun, factual, empowering and combined science and sensitivity. It would be good to have one for boys and girls because I have one of each

Oh my, that's terrible!

I haven't read these but Miyam Bialik has published books Girling up and Boying up. Based on interviews they seem like really intelligent books

There is only one sentence about sex as in "you can't get pregnant unless you have sex". No mention of what sex is or contraception, even in a child friendly way. Some parents seemed to like that. DD would have so many questions.