Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls

Through case studies in which adolescent girls are involved with family divorce, eating disorder, self-mutilation, and sexual pressure, Pipher exposes the part that parents and culture play in turning fearless, outgoing little girls into depressed, angry, and insecure adolescents. She offers common sense, non-threatening solutions that require parents to become more involved in their daughters’ lives. She encourages parents to promote their daughters' strengths and talents so that they gain a broader sense of their ability to contribute to society beyond beauty and sexual stereotypes.