Beneath a layer of perfect selfies, the mental well-being of teenage girls is deteriorating. Those who don’t conform to the ideal shape or size struggle with a lack of self-confidence, fear, and doubt. Girls are confronted with discrimination, bullying, diagnoses of autism and ADHD or are denied the daily freedoms accorded to boys. But there is hope. This book tells the stories of young rebels who have managed to fight against the sex stereotypes and find their own way. Fifty contributors from various countries including The Netherlands, USA, Taiwan, Denmark, China, Afghanistan and Spain pose important questions that you don’t often hear discussed about what it means to be a girl in the modern world. We hear from experts such as Finnish psychiatrist Riittakerttu Kaltiala and Holly Moreau from Fanfiction USA who share their work with girls and dissect the cultural forces at play. There are also the stories from girls and women themselves who explain how they are navigating the complex challenges faced by girls in the 21st century. The future for girls is crucial for the future of everyone. This uplifting collection demonstrates how the next generation is continuing the radical feminist fight to expose misogyny and find autonomy, confidence, enjoyment and independence in their lives.
