WHAT GIRLS NEED

How to raise girls so they have the best chance of achieving their “own success.”

Porges has experienced unquestionable success in her life: She flew missions for the Navy as a senior officer and “navigate[d] the politics of the White House and the drama of the Pentagon [to shape] U.S. counterterrorism and cybersecurity efforts under two presidents,” and she is now the head of an all-girls school outside of Philadelphia. In each of her many roles, she has encountered the discrimination so many women face when they interact with their male counterparts in the workplace and elsewhere. Here, the author gathers her hard-won tactics to help parents educate their girls about these depressingly timeless problems. “Every girl,” she writes, “should learn skills early on that empower her to be her best self…so that [they] grow into women able to apply grit, confidence, and bravery in real-world situations and effectively advocate for themselves wherever they may find themselves.” Combining case studies with her own experiences, Porges identifies core character traits that should be nurtured so that girls develop crucial skills for the modern, global world. Girls must stand up for themselves and ask for what they need and want; they must realize that competition can be a healthy endeavor and to not belittle their own skills for fear of upsetting others; they should be encouraged to use and expand their natural collaborative problem-solving abilities and be aware of the value of empathy, a good and oftentimes overlooked trait; they must be able to adapt to a wide variety of rapidly changing circumstances. Although the book contains few groundbreaking insights, the author’s credentials are impressive, and she presents her arguments and tactics to teaching them in a conversational tone that allows readers fresh insights into deep-rooted issues that have plagued women for years.

Practical, persuasive advice for raising confident, dynamic girls prepared to tackle any challenge.