Book Report Thinking Outside the Girl Box by Linda Spatig

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Thinking Outside the Girl Box by Linda Spatig
Introduction
After several years in Lincoln County Girls’ Resiliency Program (GRP), Teresa says, "I'm smart. And sometimes I have a good attitude; sometimes I don't. I always remind people of things. I always put in my ideas." Furthermore, Teresa describes herself confidently as a teacher and a leader and messenger (Spatig & Amerikaner, 2014, 66). Thinking outside the Girl Box by Linda Spatig reveals a true narration of progress in the development of youth program in a rural area of West Virginia. The book is a revelation of the practical insight of the participative ethnographic researches that young girls show to the society. The book is an insightful challenge to the girls confined in "the boxes" of male chauvinism and oppression in the society, especially in the USA. Thinking outside the girl box is a feminist analysis that supports and appreciates women and their role when they receive love, resiliency, development, democracy, and freedom of girls in the society. The present book project henceforth gives a detailed analysis of the book Thinking Outside the Girl Box by Linda Spatig elaborating on the different themes that answer the question on the role of various institutions in elevating women to reach their potentials in life.
Review of the Literature
Empowering women in the current society gain recognition globally with the majority of the women getting full access to education, job opportunities that men dominated as well as their rights in the political arena. Thinking Outside the Girl Box gives different narrations of the achievements of GRP focusing on the design for women to move beyond the scope of “girl boxes.” Shelley as mature women in the book takes the responsibility of managing the GRP. Together with other staffs and board members, the group emphasizes on the identification of the strength of women and their bold step to engage in top decision-making processes as well as ensuring that women get social justice to develop their future (Spatig & Amerikaner, 2014).
Various episodes on the book show that the current literature review aims at elaborating other existing research works on girl's education and empowerment as well as the role of different entities, educational research policy-making bodies about the elevation of girl's education. Furthermore, the review elaborates on other evaluative research reports that devote much of their information on improvement of women in the society.
Social and Cultural Barriers to Progress in Women
Women in the society continue to succumb to the gender-based roles that are resistant to feminist critiques. For instance, leadership for a long time has a link with the masculinity with women categorized as weak. Besides, biases lead to increase in suspicion that women are not to the task of performing leadership roles, especially in the political arena. Lack of women in the high power positions continues to change the perception of ability for women to take leadership roles. Therefore, GRP initiative in West Virginia changes such negative attitude. The book Think Outside Girl Box demonstrate an aspect of transformative leadership in women as young girls are brought up to face challenges in life with the determination of taking up the non-traditional approaches to administration. The girls get the mentorship process to bring them into the political arena to counter the high social biases (Alexander, 2012). Furthermore, GRP in West Virginia helps the girls to avoid constraints regarding family work as well as other constraints.
In most cases, women don't get the opportunity to delve into leadership positions as well as take part in the political arena. Family work and time constraints usually result in uneven distribution of family care duties and responsibilities hence women spend more time than men in the home and child care. The women take the motherhood responsibilities with time consumption which leads to navigation constraints between the family responsibilities and political positions. In curbing such aspects, the GRP in West Virginia gives girls the opportunities to exercise their freedom and plan their time well for the fulfillment of their dreams such as becoming future leaders, taking part in politics and other income generating resources (Rosenbluth, Kalla &Teele, 2015).
Enhancement of Democracy
For a long time, the world has been experiencing democracy that is dominated by men with little experience exhibited among the women. However, feminist ideas have been on the rise in the current political debates on the democratic politics. Therefore, workable democracies need representation of gender with mature public discussions on the common problems in the society (Spatig & Amerikaner, 2014).
Women of today aggressively participate in the political processes that directly impact on their lives and families as well as the society. Many nations appreciate the participation of women primarily those that take leadership roles in civil society. Therefore, such women have brought positive involvement in matters pertaining inclusivity, responsiveness, democracy, and egalitarianism. Besides, the women currently participate in peace processes which help in the expansion of scopes of agreements as well as improvement of prospects for long-lasting peace (Spatig & Amerikaner, 2014).
Separately, other parts of the world experience low participation of women at the national and local decision levels. Henceforth strengthening the women's rights and solving the political barriers are essential in improving civic involvement as well as ensuring gender equality and women empowerment. Banaszak, Beckwith & Rucht (2005) on the women’s movements facing the reconfigured state. The authors note that the best way to support women around the world requires training for the women on the political parties and parliaments, providing skills to women to encourage their leadership training in civil society meetings, support the participation of women in democratic undertaking and improvement of women to have access to the justice system. However, most of the democracies in different nations focus on the participation to the broader interest at the individual level at the expense of community and inclusion of the minority in the society (Banaszak, Beckwith & Rucht, 2005). Therefore, with the creation of awareness on women’s rights and their participation in democracy, women are gaining power in the political arena. The feminist perspective in democracy focuses on women’s political influence, gains of women in their policies that directly solve the issue of gender inequality. On the same note, the civil society promotes participatory governance that embraces prospects of democratization and improvement of space for women in politics. Therefore, the inclusion of women in democracy helps in the development of area for women in various positions to enhance effectiveness in governance (Banaszak, Beckwith & Rucht, 2005).
Separately, public perception of the women's capabilities plays a critical role in their political inclusion. Sentiments on gender equality in the society usually affect the women’s participation in political arena. Regarding GRP in West Virginia, a change in public perception on women encourages their involvement in leadership roles and their democratic participation. Many researchers indicate that women who participate in parliament contribute positively and significantly generate strong attention to issues affecting women. Such assistance leads to gender equality, genuine democracy as well as their direct engagement in the public decision-making processes which leads to accountability. Besides, the participation of women in democracy enhances political accountability with more women participating in the decision making processes (Spatig & Amerikaner, 2014, 66).
Women Capacity in Education Sector
Women are creative in the society with high levels of innovative skills that suits the American business in unique ways. Getting out of the girl box usually entails a shift of thinking and framing the way of innovation. For a long time, women in the USA have not been coming out of their cocoon to initiate change in the society due to numerous challenges that they face. In understanding their commitment to change such perception, the GRP in the book Thinking Outside the Girl Box elaborates the different sage and struggles of women who dedicate themselves with intense passion, commitment, and emotions to achieve their objectives (Spatig & Amerikaner, 2014).
One aspect that comes out is that such helpless ...