Eps 513: Growing our teen’s awareness around sexism with Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein
Sep 9, 2024
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Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein, a clinical psychologist and expert on sexism, shares her personal journey of confronting gender bias. She highlights the intergenerational transmission of sexism and deconstructs common parenting dilemmas, like the clothing conversations with daughters. The discussion emphasizes fostering empowerment in young women amidst societal pressures, teaching them to stand up for themselves without fear. Dr. Finkelstein also addresses the critical role of open dialogues with boys and men to combat systemic sexism, urging parents to be allies in this ongoing battle.
Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein emphasizes the importance of fostering resilience in girls to combat gender bias and societal expectations confidently.
The podcast discusses practical strategies for parents to promote open communication and empower daughters in navigating societal pressures and implicit biases.
Deep dives
The Importance of Active Skin Repair
Active Skin Repair is highlighted as a versatile and safe skin health product that treats a variety of skin issues, including cuts, scrapes, burns, and rashes. Its non-toxic, medical-grade formula makes it suitable for all skin types and can even be used on conditions like rosacea and eczema. Personal anecdotes emphasize confidence in providing this product to children as they face new challenges, particularly in active environments such as college. Parents are urged to prioritize high-quality skincare options for their kids, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle minor injuries and skin problems.
Navigating Parenting Tweens and Teens
The podcast emphasizes the significance of nurturing both personal growth and the connection with children during their formative teen years. The host, Kasey O'Rourke, shares her experiences while guiding parents to maintain healthy relationships amidst the challenges of raising tweens and teens. The conversations are framed around the idea that understanding and empathy are crucial in overcoming the turbulence of these developmental stages. This resource aims to provide real and actionable advice for parents striving to keep it together while effectively parenting their children.
Dr. Joanne Finkelstein's Insights on Sexism
Dr. Joanne Finkelstein discusses her new book, 'Sexism and Sensibility', focusing on empowering girls to navigate a world filled with gender bias and societal expectations. She shares personal experiences of gender bias from her childhood, illustrating how seemingly small instances can create lasting psychological impacts on young girls. The conversation highlights the importance of parental awareness in recognizing and combating implicit biases that may unintentionally diminish their daughters' self-worth. Finkelstein advocates for fostering an understanding of these biases and encouraging resilience in girls to help them recognize their full potential.
Empowering Girls Against Gender Bias
The podcast explores practical strategies for parents to empower their daughters in responding to societal pressures and biases. Dr. Finkelstein emphasizes the need to foster a healthy sense of entitlement in girls, encouraging them to advocate for themselves and their needs. Messaging that inadvertently prioritizes pleasing others over personal acceptance is challenged, promoting the idea that girls can and should express their opinions without fear of negative consequences. The discussion also addresses the importance of fostering a supportive environment where communication about inappropriate behavior is open, equipping girls with the tools they need to navigate complex social dynamics.
My guest today is Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein and we’re talking about sexism and our daughters.
Dr. Finkelstein kicks us off by sharing how a pink hockey stick impacted her childhood and inspired her to speak about sexism & gender bias. I ask what intergenerational transmission of sexism is, and Dr. Finkelstein helps me deconstruct an incident I had with Ronan about how she was dressing in 8th grade.
We ponder on how we can raise strong women in a patriarchal society that can be violent towards women without victimizing our girls or instilling fear and how to navigate bodily autonomy in a world where their bodies sometimes are not safe and don’t feel like their own. It’s you and your daughter against the unfairness of the patriarchy & the culture, not each other!
I ask Dr. Finkelstein what messaging young girls are receiving from media & pop culture right now, how we can teach & encourage young women to stand up for themselves & feel empowered without putting themselves in danger, and how we can have meaningful conversations with them men & boys in our life about sexism & patriarchy.
Takeaways from the show
The intergenerational transmission of sexism
The “battle” between moms & daughters about clothing
How do we raise strong women in a patriarchal society that can be violent towards women without victimizing our girls?
People get harassed (and worse) regardless of what they wear
Fostering a healthy sense of entitlement in young women
What messages are girls and young women receiving from pop culture and media right now?
Raising boys who are sensitive to sexism and male privilege