NWSA Assignment

Harris sheds light on many aspects of girlhood, politics, the public sphere, and  girls’ voices in all of these fields. At first I thought she was exaggerating when she says that political and public participation from girls can only happen once girls overcome the obstacles and ‘scars’ they have accumulated through growing up as a female (139). However, as my media artifact, I found a disturbing article about a teacher who had been sexually assaulting his students (fifth and sixth graders) for years, and how the administration from multiple school where he was employed didn’t report it. I see this article and the experiences of the girls mentioned in this story as solid proof that what Harris is claiming may hold truth. It seems that through these types of cases the silencing of girls is almost systematic.

At multiple points in this teacher’s career someone should have reported him, yet everyone turned a blind eye, and in return multiple girls hold these scars and lack on faith in a system that has proven to fail them, and not value their voices. The acknowledgement of girls and their experiences are vital for successful girls leadership. Harris also points out that girls are manipulated out of their agency to lead and be authentic public figures because of the invasion of the girls private spaces (126). I agree with this idea, but looking at New Moon Girls Magazine in the Ask A Girl portion, it appears that self –disclosure is everywhere, and that girls enjoy putting their stories out there and receiving feedback (5).

 I see this idea of self-disclosure being potentially good as a tool for girls to connect and relate to one another, not to be exploited by media heads. However, this line between healthy disclosure to feel connected to others through personal experiences and the disclosure that’s forced on girls to appear visible and therefore important is very fine, and easily confused and used against girls. I see how these simple and healthy spaces for girls can create a false sense of security through self-disclosing on a more public stage.

All three of these sources, New Moon Girls Magazine, Future Girl, and the Seattle Times article: School district ignored warnings, then silenced girls fondled by teacher, tie together to form a picture where girls seem to be controlled through the act of sharing. Future Girl presents this idea of the voiceless adolescent girl that is in need of help, which is solidified through the Seattle Times article. Yet it is New Moon that offers a solution to the problem, which is the attempt at creating a ‘safe’ space for girls to self-disclose, ask questions, and create their voice on their own terms.

Word Count: 452

Works Cited

Armstrong, Ken, and Justin Mayo. "Your Courts, Their Secrets: School District Ignored Warnings, Then Silenced Girls Fondled by Teacher." The Seattle times [Seattle] 23 Apr. 2010. Seattle times. Seattle times Company, 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 9 Nov. 2011. <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/yourcourtstheirsecrets/2003316890_northshore22m.html>.

Cordes, Helen, ed. "Letters to Luna." New Moon Girls Nov.-Dec. 2011: 5-10. Web. 9 Nov. 2011. <http://www.newmoon.com/magazine/samples/November-December-2011.pdf>.

Harris, Anita. Future Girl: Young Women in the Twenty-First Century. New York: Routledge, 2004. Print.