Sexism & Sensibility

Gives a comprehensive understanding of the many ways sexism manifests in the the lives of girls and young women, and provides very helpful advice on how to counteract that with a foundation of equality, empowerment, justice, and a refusal to tolerate mistreatment. Great stuff!

(I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

As the mother of an 11 year old daughter, I found this to be a marvelous encapsulation of so many issues and topics... I am not generally a self-help or parenting-book reader, but found Dr. Finkelstein's presentation to be thoughtful and thought-provoking without feeling like it was chastising me or telling me how I was wrong and why. Instead it provided insightful looks into behaviors, attitudes and perceptions - several of which I had never given more than a cursory thought before - and offered alternative approaches to handling tough conversations that I had not considered. There is a lot of food for thought here, and it is definitely the type of thought that does not get enough attention in the modern world!

This is a must read for anyone (I thought long and hard about qualifying this. "...any parent," "..,anyone interacting with a child," "...anyone interacting with anyone of the female persuasion," but decided that the world would be a better place if everyone was considering these topics. Dr. Finkelstein provides clear, approachable discourse on the state of sexism in the United States. She also provides practical advice, including client examples from her own practice to illustrate how parents can discuss these topics with children of all genders to help them navigate their own experiences of sexism and the mixed signals that society sends us about how gender "should" present.

I felt incredibly seen reading this book, there were many times that Dr. Finkelstein's case examples rang true with my own experience of gender. I highlighted many passages for future parenting discussions with my daughter.

Thank you to Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein and Rodale Inc. for the ARC in exchange for a honest review of Sexism and Sensibility.

This a a very good book that I think was very helpful for me if I have kids and will have to educate them about sexism. It gave a lot of good points.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

this book dives into how to raise girls to overcome the sexism that dominates our society. I picked this up based on the title and synopsis but must have missed the part about it being a parenting guide. Or maybe thought raising included educators, like me! Well, I don’t have children so I didn’t find it the most relatable. However, I did really like all of the points and ideas Finkelstein wrote about! Even though I don’t have children, I think parents should definitely pick this up and read it. It’s important so that girls can grow up knowing already how to overcome the patriarchy.

I grew up in the same climate as the author. I was told he and him were just pronouns for everyone. It was accepted and easy. I was told women changed their names when they became married and sometimes were refered to as their husband’s name. It was tradition. It was an honor. Mankind was humankind. Language did everything to tell us that we were just a part of men. The less important part.

A woman ran for vice president. I was told that a woman would never be the leader of our country. You couldn’t put one a heart-beat away from the presidency. It was just accepted fact. Women weren’t made for it. The world would not accept it. It could never happen. Just learn that and be proud of your place.

I left the home of my mother and stepfather and entered a whole new world. My father and his 5 daughters. He told me and my sisters that we were strong. He said we shouldn’t take anything from anyone. We should always be self-sufficient so we don’t stay with a man because we have to. I credit moving in with my father as a teenager with my feminism.

We all need that voice. This book is for those who weren’t lucky enough to have my father in their lives. We don’t have to accept. We can question. We can challenge. My father boasted to everyone when I kept my last name when I got married. This book was like hearing his voice again. I wish my mother could have been that voice. Everyone needs that voice. If you don’t have it, read it here.

This book is both enlightening and practical. Even though I’m familiar with the topic, I found it so engaging that I couldn’t put it down. Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein’s book is essential for everyone, not just parents. It provides a thorough look at how sexism affects children from a young age, backed by research. Understanding these issues is key to improving how we interact with and support kids. Dr. Finkelstein offers a clear and accessible discussion on sexism in the U.S. and practical advice for talking about these issues with children of all genders.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC

An essential books for parents who want to help their children recognize and navigate sexism written with empathy and verve. Thank to Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein for laying out how kids face sexism early, often, and in so many aspects of their daily lives with continued reference to research. So many times what I read about gender and discrimination does not match up with what we’re experiencing day in and day out at school, activities, the neighborhood, and even within families. The book is full of understanding not only for the kids but also parents who can feel lost. This line really stuck with me: “The single most helpful thing we can do as parents is to examine our own biases so we aren’t parenting from a place of fear.” There is a great emphasis on the fact that there isn’t a single talk like many of us grew up with. To be there for our kids means being open to a series of varied conversations and a willingness to listen, even when we will get it wrong sometimes. Each chapter ends with practical advice and provides nuance on how the conversation can change between parenting a tween and an older teen. Through a combination of scientific literature, clinical experience, and personal reflection, Dr. Finkelstein create a fast-paced and empowering narrative to make a subject that many of us find both terrifying and infuriating as something that we have the power to support our children through.