Book Review-Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson
I chose Bringing up Girls-practical advice and encouragement for those shaping the next generation of women by Dr. James Dobson. If you have read Bringing up Boys by the same author, this one reads a bit more like a patched together commentary with each chapter almost standing alone. In it, he addresses numerous topics, ranging from teaching our daughters manners, the Disney Princess craze, Father Daughter Purity Balls, Girl Scouts of America, bullying, hormonal changes, STDs and sexual predators. Yes, he does provide some eye-opening data regarding early promiscuity and the dangers that are all around us. It is only scary if we let Satan have a foothold on our fear!
Some of the things I took away from it:
1) the HUGE role of dad's in their lives-did you know researchers have identified a hormone that is emitted by the father and sensed or smelled by the daughter. This hormone is only emitted when dad is involved, not just present in her life. This hormone, called a pheromone, can actually delay sexual maturity and the onset of menstruation! WOW, considering some girls are getting their periods at age 9.
2) Girl Scouts of the USA has changed in recent years and is no longer recommended by Dr Dobson due to their moral relativism. It was alarming when he cited things like: their definition of right and wrong-"whatever is consistent with your character," their openness to the New Age movement and the well known fact that references to "God" are optional. He mentioned that the curriculum has an anti-boy/father tone, they are not taught pride of country since the US is "antiquated and incompatible with globalism" and the scariest part- one program involves girls in the United Nations Population Fund (an effort to limit human procreation by means of abortion.
3)A list of 10 practical steps a parent should take (in regards to cyberspace, entertainment and media)-this really applies to anyone, kids or no kids!
4) he actually likes the thing Disney has done with the Princess stories, mostly because they get married (novel idea, huh!) and aren't the sex icons that Barbies have become. BTW what did they do with Skipper? I haven't seen her lately, but I also haven't shopped for a doll in the last 10 years! Dr Dobson feels that every girl should be allowed/encouraged to dream about romance and being rescued or wanted by a prince or beast, etc. It was food for thought- let's just put it that way. Jon and I have not come to any conclusions on this one, mostly since there is an evil character, usually a scary one in the movies. You decide...
So, not sure if you were thinking about picking this one up at the library, but ... like I said lots of research went into this book and the topics that were chosen were very deliberate. He writes as a committed Christian, but remember he is a psychologist- please read it critically and Biblically, taking his opinion for what it is, merely his opinion.
Hope you enjoyed this commentary! If you would like to continue to receive these monthly reviews, please come back!
Thanks for reading/skimming,
sarah
Some of the things I took away from it:
1) the HUGE role of dad's in their lives-did you know researchers have identified a hormone that is emitted by the father and sensed or smelled by the daughter. This hormone is only emitted when dad is involved, not just present in her life. This hormone, called a pheromone, can actually delay sexual maturity and the onset of menstruation! WOW, considering some girls are getting their periods at age 9.
2) Girl Scouts of the USA has changed in recent years and is no longer recommended by Dr Dobson due to their moral relativism. It was alarming when he cited things like: their definition of right and wrong-"whatever is consistent with your character," their openness to the New Age movement and the well known fact that references to "God" are optional. He mentioned that the curriculum has an anti-boy/father tone, they are not taught pride of country since the US is "antiquated and incompatible with globalism" and the scariest part- one program involves girls in the United Nations Population Fund (an effort to limit human procreation by means of abortion.
3)A list of 10 practical steps a parent should take (in regards to cyberspace, entertainment and media)-this really applies to anyone, kids or no kids!
4) he actually likes the thing Disney has done with the Princess stories, mostly because they get married (novel idea, huh!) and aren't the sex icons that Barbies have become. BTW what did they do with Skipper? I haven't seen her lately, but I also haven't shopped for a doll in the last 10 years! Dr Dobson feels that every girl should be allowed/encouraged to dream about romance and being rescued or wanted by a prince or beast, etc. It was food for thought- let's just put it that way. Jon and I have not come to any conclusions on this one, mostly since there is an evil character, usually a scary one in the movies. You decide...
So, not sure if you were thinking about picking this one up at the library, but ... like I said lots of research went into this book and the topics that were chosen were very deliberate. He writes as a committed Christian, but remember he is a psychologist- please read it critically and Biblically, taking his opinion for what it is, merely his opinion.
Hope you enjoyed this commentary! If you would like to continue to receive these monthly reviews, please come back!
Thanks for reading/skimming,
sarah
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