Female Adolescence

A sensitive, gracefully written exploration of the distinctiveness of the female adolescent experience. The author combines insights drawn from her clinical practice with informed analyses of familiar works of literature. Her premise is that literature does not merely exemplify but deepens our understanding of psychological processes. "A brilliant and evocative analysis of the transition from girlhood to womanhood, with its longings, its pain, and the pride of growing up. The depiction is rich with the particularities of the experiences of adolescent girls, and provides a welcome contrast to the usual rendering of this period as a variation on male development."--Lila Braine, Chair, Department of Psychology, Barnard College "Masterful analyses of five literary works. . . . Dalsimer's interpretations are remarkable for the intelligent and informed acuity of her psychoanalytic observations as well as for their preservation of the texture of lived experience. A uniquely felicitous conjunction of psychoanalysis and literature."--Choice "Dalsimer's commentaries prove consistently empathetic, discerning, and convincing. . . . This beautifully writen book renders important service both to psychoanalysis and to literary studies."--Paul Schwaber, Professor of Letters, Wesleyan University "This book will be treasured by anyone who has taught or treated an adolescent girl, or read a book about one, or, like Freud and the rest of us, simply wondered at the miracle of transformation of a girl into a woman."--Robert Michels, M.D., Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Cornell University Medical College

In this groundbreaking study, Crista DeLuzio asks how scientific experts conceptualized female adolescence in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Revisiting figures like G. Stanley Hall and Margaret Mead and casting her net across the disciplines of biology, psychology, and anthropology, DeLuzio examines the process by which youthful femininity in America became a contested cultural category. Challenging accepted views that professionals "invented" adolescence during this period to understand the typical experiences of white middle-class boys, DeLuzio shows how early attempts to reconcile that conceptual category with "femininity" not only shaped the social science of young women but also forced child development experts and others to reconsider the idea of adolescence itself. DeLuzio’s provocative work permits a fuller understanding of how adolescence emerged as a "crisis" in female development and offers insight into why female adolescence remains a social and cultural preoccupation even today.

Adolescenceâ€"beginning with the onset of puberty and ending in the mid-20sâ€"is a critical period of development during which key areas of the brain mature and develop. These changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity mark adolescence as a period of opportunity to discover new vistas, to form relationships with peers and adults, and to explore one's developing identity. It is also a period of resilience that can ameliorate childhood setbacks and set the stage for a thriving trajectory over the life course. Because adolescents comprise nearly one-fourth of the entire U.S. population, the nation needs policies and practices that will better leverage these developmental opportunities to harness the promise of adolescenceâ€"rather than focusing myopically on containing its risks. This report examines the neurobiological and socio-behavioral science of adolescent development and outlines how this knowledge can be applied, both to promote adolescent well-being, resilience, and development, and to rectify structural barriers and inequalities in opportunity, enabling all adolescents to flourish.

This wide-ranging volume presents an in-depth picture of adolescent sexuality and behavior. As perhaps the most vital period in human development, adolescence is a time of complex, often difficult interactions between diverse influences. Here, nineteen scientists representing ten disciplines explore the biological, psychological, and cultural factors involved in the onset of puberty and its associated emotional changes. Patterns of adolescent sexual behavior are viewed in cross-cultural perspective, psychiatric disorders are considered, and trends in adolescent sexual activity, contraception, and pregnancy are described. Key legal and social dilemmas are also explored. This is the third volume in a groundbreaking series from the Kinsey Institute, which has as its aim the study of topics relating to sex, gender, and reproduction that require an interdisciplinary approach. Previous volumes in the series include Homosexuality/Heterosexuality and Masculinity/Femininity.

Frankly discusses the physical and social changes that occur when a girl goes through puberty, and offers suggestions on how to deal with them.

Although the “coming of age” story has been a popular film plot for decades, producers have only recently realized the commercial potential of targeting films to adolescent girls. Movies like Clueless, Legally Blonde and Mean Girls have been successfully marketed to teenage girls, as have several well-known independent films. Important as both cultural indicators and catalysts, these films simultaneously demonstrate pop culture’s influence on girls’ films, and the ability of girls’ films to affect pop culture and perceptions of girlhood. This critical survey of film and the modern girl concentrates largely on films of the last two decades, addressing key themes for girls within “coming of age” films, the changing (but not always improving) young feminine paradigm, and the ways these films can be powerful determinants of culture. The first chapter explores the ways in which girls’ films construct, reinforce, challenge and dismantle mainstream conceptualizations of sexuality, race and power. The second chapter discusses mainstream limitations of “coming of age” narratives, including recycled plots and stars, treatments of parental and male authority, and adult conceptualizations of adolescence. The third chapter describes girls’ experiences within these narratives through such conventions as attitude, teen fashion, music and dance, unsanctioned rites of passage, and race. The fourth chapter covers the negotiation of sex and sexuality, virginity and sexual empowerment. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

This edited collection is the first to address the topic of adolescence in Irish history. It brings together established and emerging scholars to examine the experience of Irish young adults from the 'affective revolution' of the early nineteenth century to the emergence of the teenager in the 1960s.

Deal with the ups and downs of growing up. This visual guide to puberty and adolescence is a must-read for all parents and tweens embarking on those scary teenage years. This growing up book covers contemporary issues such as internet safety and tackles key topics such as sexuality and body image. Demystify puberty with this must-read home reference ebook. From your menstrual cycle to sexting, and even cyber-bullying. This straightforward, unpatronizing approach to tricky topics is the essential illustrated guide to adolescence for both parents and their teens. The stunning graphics and illustrations make this invaluable for tweens and teens alike. Help Your Kids With Adolescence is a guide for modern kids coming into their teen years. It addresses topical issues like body image, the effects of social media, and sexting. It also offers a biological explanation for the physical side of being a teenager from mood swings, periods, and breaking voices. This ebook offers a no-nonsense, non-judgemental approach to help parents and their kids navigate their way through puberty and adolescence. Sexuality, Confidence, Social Media, Emotions, Stress! Puberty and adolescence can be a confusing and complex time. Help Your Kids With Adolescence offers straightforward advice to help parents and children survive and thrive during the turbulent teenage years. Emotional well-being, physical changes, online safety, family dynamics, relationships, sexuality, and much more are discussed and explained through jargon-free text and simple, clear illustrations. Engaging graphics and illustrations make this modern, comprehensive guide to adolescence invaluable for tweens and teens alike. Whether as a quick-reference guide or cover-to-cover read. This self-understanding and self-development ebook will discuss and explain the following topics: - Growing Up - Female Puberty - Male Puberty - Healthy Body - Healthy Mind - Achieving Potential - Digital Life - Sexuality - Relationships - And more. DK's bestselling Help Your Kids With series contains crystal-clear visual breakdowns of important subjects. Simple graphics and jargon-free text are key to making this series a user-friendly resource for frustrated parents who want to help with children get the most out of life. Get help with anything from geography and music to maths, SATs, and growing up.