Powerful Girls

"Powerful Girls, Raising Strong, Just, and Compassionate Young Women" is a transformative book born from author Ann Muno's personal tragedy and professional journey. Following the 1976 murder of her sister by a high school classmate, Muno dedicated her life to understanding how parents, teachers, and communities can prevent violence against girls and foster a healthier girl culture.

This compelling book answers crucial questions: How can we ensure girls don't face adolescent struggles in isolation? How can we empower every girl to support and develop a healthier girl culture? What practical strategies can we use to help girls harness their power as they grow? Through a wealth of stories, studies, and suggestions, Muno provides context for the challenges girls face, identifies where their power diminishes, and reveals how they can reclaim their agency and confidence.

Organized around eight essential powers, "Powerful Girls" introduces readers to real girls who, even after a decade, continue to use the skills they developed in their girlhood groups. These stories, along with other valuable lessons, explore what empowerment truly means for girls confronting various forms of oppression in their schools and communities. The book takes readers to places that nurture what many of today's girls lack: a sense of belonging in a healthy girl culture, a strong identity, race consciousness, the ability to critique media influences, and a deeper connection to their own values.

"Powerful Girls" serves as an indispensable guide for parents, mentors, and all those who influence girls' lives. It provides innovative approaches that can be applied in homes and schools - the heart of where we can shape the next generation of powerful women. By supporting girls in learning and practicing these vital skills within their communities, we can create a ripple effect of positive change, fostering a world where girls not only survive but thrive as strong, socially aware, and compassionate young women.