Manifesto

I was in a Barnes & Noble store yesterday, and cast my eye on two magazines geared toward girls age 8-14, American Girl and Girl's Life. And their contents just torqued my jaws. Remember - the starting age to read these magazines is 8 years old. And all of the contents was geared toward appearance, and making oneself attractive to boys. "Four hairtyles you'll love, how to know if he really likes you, food that won't make you fat."

Not one leavening article on a woman role model, on some interesting hobby, on an interesting place to visit, something other than a focus on appearance and the necessity for appearing pretty for boys.

Contrast that to a boys magazine for the same age group. I guarantee that there'll be nothing in there except interesting stuff....probably nothing on how to talk to girls, either.

So girls are socialized from the earliest age that it is their appearance that is important, and that if they don't use makeup they must be lesbians (okay, I'm extrapoloating there) and that nothing they can do at any age is more important than being attractive to the boys in their classes.

I mean, come on, why should an 8 year old be putting on makeup? She shouldnt even know anything about sex until she's 14 or so! But of course, in today's age, girls and boys learn about sex at about the age of 8....impossible to keep them innocent very long....and dangerous too, I suppose.

In any event, the purpose of this blog is to present female role models - scientists, mathematicians, explorers, pilots, engineers. It will also share science information.

The title specifies that its for girls, but really, girls and boys can benefit from this blog-zine.