Synopses & Reviews
Until recently, it was assumed that boys were the primary, if not exclusive, perpetrators of violence. Boys are still primary, but things are changing. There has been a tremendous statistical increase in the incidence of physical violence generated by pubescent and teenage girls, both against one another and occasionally exploding against the rest of the world. This violence will not be confined, as many think, to poor inner-city girls but will reach (just as it did with boys) all kinds of suburban, rural, and urban communities across a broad spectrum of demographics.
Sugar and Spice and No Longer Nice is a groundbreaking book that offers parents and teachers a primer for understanding and preventing the increasing incidents of physical violence--hazing, brutality, fighting, weapons, murder--by young girls. Written by Drs. Deborah Prothrow-Stith and Howard R. Spivak—the renowned Harvard- and Tufts-based experts on preventing youth violence—this important book offers a plan to help our daughters become strong, confident, powerful, and independent young women without being violent.
The book is well grounded in scientific data and filled with illustrative examples of girls’ real-life stories of violence. The stories cover a range of issues and risk factors that focus on girls’ violent and aggressive behavior. Sugar and Spice and No Longer Nice offers a plan for creating a girl-oriented approach to preventing violence and answers such questions as
- How is the violent behavior of girls different from that of boys?
- What can parents do to prevent aggressive behavior in girls?
- What can schools and educators do to prevent violent behavior?
- What can communities do to address the issue of violence and girls?
- Is it possible to reverse this trend?
Sugar and Spice and No Longer Nice is a call to action for changing our attitudes, improving our parenting skills, confronting our cultural norms and media images, and taking responsibility for all our children.
Review
"This provides answers."
—Bill Cosby
"This book provides solid insights and suggestions as to steps we must take to address girl violence before it gets out of hand. I applaud the authors’ work, commitment, and their heartfelt and practical advice."
—From the Foreword by Janet Reno
"This book is a much-needed wake-up call for everyone who still believes that violence is something girls just don’t do. Parents and teachers both will be grateful for its insights into how to identify negative influences and what adults can do to help."
—Marian Wright Edelman, president, Children’s Defense Fund
"A timely book! The authors warn of the distressing increase in violence among girls. Their recommendations can help parents and policymakers stem the tide of this frightening trend."
—Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D., professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Judge Baker Children’s Center, Boston, Massachusetts
Synopsis
Sugar and Spice and No Longer Nice is a groundbreaking book that offers parents and teachers a primer for understanding and preventing the increasing incidents of physical violence--hazing, brutality, fighting, weapons, murder--by young girls. Written by Drs. Deborah Prothrow-Stith and Howard R. Spivak—the renowned Harvard- and Tufts-based experts on preventing youth violence—this important book offers a plan to help our daughters become strong, confident, powerful, and independent young women without being violent.
Synopsis
Sugar & Spice and No Longer Nice is a call to action for changing our attitudes, improving our parenting skills, confronting our cultural norms and media images, and taking responsibility for all our children.
Praise for Sugar & Spice and No Longer Nice
"This book provides solid insights and strategies for addressing girls' violence before it gets out of hand. I applaud these authors' work, commitment, and their heartfelt and practical advice."
—From the Foreword by Janet Reno
"This book is a much-needed wake-up call for everyone who still believes that violence is something girls just don't do. Parents and teachers both will be grateful for its insights into how to identify negative influences and what adults can do to help."
—Marian Wright Edelman, president, Children's Defense Fund
"A timely book! The authors warn of the distressing increase in violence among girls. Their recommendations can help parents and policymakers stem the tide of this frightening trend."
—Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D., professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Judge Baker Children's Center, Boston, Massachusetts
About the Author
Both of these authors are famous educators, researchers, and hard-nosed activists in the field of preventing youth violence, with a proven track record of great success in the field, and national visibility in major broadcast and print media, including frequent appearances on Good Morning America, Nightline, the PBS News Hour, ABC News, the New York Times, The Boston Globe, and elsewhere. Deborah Prothrow-Stith M.D. is Associate Dean for faculty development and Professor of public health practice at the Harvard University School of Public Health. Dr. Smith is also Commissioner for the Department of Public Health for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and, with Dr. Spivak, one of the leaders in the famous Boston Youth vioilence prevention program as documented in the JB/Wiley professional book Murder is No Accident. Howard R. Spivak M.D. is Chief of the division of general pediatrics and adolescent medicine and Vice President for community health programs at New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. He is also Professor of pediatrics and community health at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Table of Contents
Foreword (Janet Reno).
Acknowledgments.
Part One: Understanding the Challenge.
1. We Have a Problem.
2. Hidden Aggression Becomes Outward Violence.
3. Facts and Figures.
4. Risk Factors and Protective Factors.
5. Feminization of the Superhero.
Part Two: Taking On the Challenge.
6. Tips for Parents.
7. Tips for Teachers and Schools.
8. What Communities Can Do.
9. A Call to Action.
Notes.
Resources.
About the Authors.
Index.