The Perils of Girlhood : A Memoir in Essays

Like many girls growing up in the eighties and nineties, Melissa Fraterrigo�leaned on popular culture to transition from childhood to adolescence and�beyond. Judy Blume told stories about girls embracing�their imperfections; Madonna encouraged bold moves. But Fraterrigo's experiences with dating and attempts to�refashion her body through diet and exercise left her feeling far from empowered. It wasn't until Fraterrigo became a mother to twin daughters and they�began their own self-criticisms that she questioned how she might help them�navigate their own girlhoods. A handsome swim coach's advances, an anxious daughter�soothing her father's temper, the history of Mace, and the joy of female friendship: these are some of the memories that shape�Fraterrigo's worldview as an�adult. Written with lyricism and insight, The Perils of Girlhood provides a reckoning and a reclamation. And while these personal narratives�developed from Fraterrigo's desire to guide her�daughters, their universal truths�compel us to consider how best to bring all of our daughters into the�future.