What Girls Need

June 1, 2020
How to raise girls so they have the best chance of achieving their "own success." Porges has experienced unquestionable success in her life: She flew missions for the Navy as a senior officer and "navigate[d] the politics of the White House and the drama of the Pentagon [to shape] U.S. counterterrorism and cybersecurity efforts under two presidents," and she is now the head of an all-girls school outside of Philadelphia. In each of her many roles, she has encountered the discrimination so many women face when they interact with their male counterparts in the workplace and elsewhere. Here, the author gathers her hard-won tactics to help parents educate their girls about these depressingly timeless problems. "Every girl," she writes, "should learn skills early on that empower her to be her best self...so that [they] grow into women able to apply grit, confidence, and bravery in real-world situations and effectively advocate for themselves wherever they may find themselves." Combining case studies with her own experiences, Porges identifies core character traits that should be nurtured so that girls develop crucial skills for the modern, global world. Girls must stand up for themselves and ask for what they need and want; they must realize that competition can be a healthy endeavor and to not belittle their own skills for fear of upsetting others; they should be encouraged to use and expand their natural collaborative problem-solving abilities and be aware of the value of empathy, a good and oftentimes overlooked trait; they must be able to adapt to a wide variety of rapidly changing circumstances. Although the book contains few groundbreaking insights, the author's credentials are impressive, and she presents her arguments and tactics to teaching them in a conversational tone that allows readers fresh insights into deep-rooted issues that have plagued women for years. Practical, persuasive advice for raising confident, dynamic girls prepared to tackle any challenge.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2020
Girls who are taught to be self-assured, confident, assertive, empathetic, and adaptable grow up to be powerful women. According to Porges, future jobs will require workers who are able to communicate and negotiate effectively, skills that have been traditionally attributed to men. In this straightforward book, Porges, who flew for the U.S. Navy, worked in the White House, negotiated peace in the Middle East, and currently runs an all-girls' school, uses studies, interviews, and her considerable experience to explain methods for teaching young women to find their voices and speak up for equal compensation and vital causes. In each chapter, Porges offers concrete suggestions for how parents can nurture these skills in their daughters. Encouraging girls to compete in sports and other contests from an early age, for example, can give girls practice at challenging themselves, stepping out into the unknown, and being resilient. Parents sharing their own mistakes and recoveries can help children develop necessary strategies. And supporting girls' rights to make decisions can provide much needed resourcefulness. An insightful guidebook for parents, teachers, and all young women.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from September 1, 2020

In summer training for the military, Porges was told by a senior officer she'd never cut it because she was a girl. In her first book, Porges describes conducting interviews with Taliban members, working in the White House counterterrorism department, and in the cybersecurity efforts under two presidents. She gives parents tools to teach girls to self-advocate, speak their mind, negotiate, persuade, and collaboratively solve problems. VERDICT Porges is the ideal candidate to pen a book on how to raise courageous and resilient women in a challenging society. Highly recommended.

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.