Vaboomer -- Baby Boomer Views & News

Kryptonite & Tweens: "The Curse of the Good Girl" Book Review

 by Nancy Mehegan

"The Curse of the Good Girl:  Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence " by Rachel Simmons

I needed this book in High School

I wish I had this book when I was 14 years old!   High School seemed a blur of emotions and a feeling of overwhelm.

Good Girl Myth

Simmons exposes the “myth of the Good Girl”—a paradigm characterized by being unerringly nice, polite, modest, and selfless.

"Unerringly nice, polite and selfless" the "good girl' is so narrow it is impossible to attain.

Conflicting messages for girls:  "Be confident but do it quietly", "be strong but don't make anyone angry"...  Ms. Simmons offers insights gleaned from her workshops  from the Girl's Leadership Institute, which she founded. 

Sample of topics:  communication, distorted thinking, authenticity.

Kryptonite

Simmons argues that we are teaching our girls in ways that limit their power and potential as society provides confusing messages to girls. 

As young children, girls are fed fairy tales that teach compliance and self-effacing modesty.  Then thrust into the working world as young adults that suddenly demands competence, confidence and assertiveness.  It's a bit like the "double-bind" psychologists describe of contradictory messages.  In a sense girls are forced to walk around with a big chunk of kryptonite that drains them of all power. (like Superman, remember?)

The Greater Voice of Myself

This is an intelligent book, without the usual bromides.  It is thought provoking and asks you to read it several times.  It's a "Mom" book -- a books for Mothers and Fathers to read to help their daughters.

It would be great if Rachel Simmons coud publish another book strictly for teen-age girls, with pictures and simple to read.  This books is a MUST for teachers and parents.  It's about girls finding their "truth", the true voice , their life guide.  This is a VITAL SUBJECT. 

This book is a MUST for any woman to read!

  It's never too late!

*** Vaboomer has a copy to Giveaway*** To enter Drawing send email to contact@boomermade.com  (Drawing is Sept 9) 

Clinton Obama Bracket the Baby Boomer Generation: Can Boomerism Really Be Dead? And Do We Want It to Be?

Why Mr. Zogby, would anyone want to give up our hopefulness, our energy, our creativity for new ideas, new organizational forms, new ways of doing things (what you call Boomer adolescence and me-centeredness), our commitment to social change, equality for all women and men irrespective of their particular shade of tan for your brand of so-called maturity? A "maturity" that is downright nasty, bitter, hostile, filled with undeniable aggression and outright verbal violence against women. Specifically against Senator Hillary Clinton who you described having received a knockout punch and other unsavory sexist sports laden metaphors.

Zolby comments

If being hopeful and being creative, innovative, forward looking, focused on the good of all, and introspective in order to bring forth the best in self and others is me-centered, then fella, we need a lot more of it since we are going down the you know what hole and fast.

Since Senator and Presidential hopeful Barack Obama is also a BOOMER! He is imbued with all the best of boomer characteristics--and those ARE a commitment to peace and equality, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, a commitment to national and international cross cultural understanding and a solutions-orientation that is a little more intelligent that a sandbox gimme and grab policy--"Mine and if you don't, I'll hit you and take it!" We've certainly seen a lot of that in the last eight years. And thousands have died as a result of this infantile approach.

If Boomers are "adolescent", THAT IS A GREAT thing and a precedence for Gen Xers and Gen Yers to create a “maturity” that will retain all the best of Boomer ideals and practices, while creating new ways of their own.

I say Boomerism should live on in its best aspect, because it reflects the core ideals of America: future orientation, bootstrap creativity, hopefulness, innovation, inclusiveness. So, Mr. Zogby, who are you calling adolescent? In my book, it's the bullies, like you, who need to grow up! And tell us, just when were you born? 1948 wasn't it? Sounds like a Boomer to me!

Boomer Bashing: Gen X Gen Y Stop Resenting Boomers! Get Over Yourselves and Invent A New Economy and Society

Are There Differences?

Is there really such a difference in Baby Boomers and Millennials Gen X and Gen Y'ers?

Politics aside--is it a point of view about life--with leading edge boomers optimistic and trailing edge and younger ones cynical? Are Boomers 'boomer centric', as Junkdrawer67 charges? Are Gen Yers all about ME? Is there really a confict between these so-called generations as is suggested: Read more  

Are Gen X brazen careerists as twentysomething  claims? Do Gen Y and Gen X really rebel against Booomer norms? What are Boomer norms?

http://www.boomerwatch.ca/?p=109 in a post reflecting on boomer norms summed it up as a generation--20+ years--who were freer from previous generations restrictions about where to live and what to do for work, when and how to have sex and marry, greater educational opportunities.

Boomers in my opinion have always looked ahead and seen an open field that they can shape to some degree. So they feel they have some social and personal power.

Spread Your Wings

Younger folks look ahead and see a huge block of Boomers who seem to have invented most things we use today and whose ideas shape our lives even to the presidential elections. I don't think it is about idealism or cynicism really. I think it is about a gut felt sense about the personal and social room to spread your wings and do things.

I think Younger people would do better for themselves and all of us if they just got over themselves and stopped blaming their parents/boomers.

We would not trade being boomers for a medicare bond

So -- Invent a New Economy!

The center of the economic world has shifted largely to China and to a lesser degree to India. So Gen Y, Gen X and whoever you are, even younger--take all that energy you are expending on blaming us for your problems and invent a new economy and social organizational pattern that will support the new green economy. Get off your duffs and start doing what has been the hallmark of Americans--making up new stuff.

Current postings on topic:

Taint of '68

Gen Xers Unhappy at Work