The Triple Bind

November 17, 2008
Hinshaw, chair of UC-Berkeley’s psychology department and an authority on childhood ADHD, enters a cultural minefield: why do today’s teenage girls, despite enormous opportunities, seem crippled by increased rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, violence and suicide? Hinshaw’s sweeping diagnosis is “the triple bind,” or society’s expectation that young women possess traditionally feminine attributes such as empathy and selflessness, but also succeed in typically masculine arenas such as competitive sports and cutthroat career paths, and finally, generally “conform to a narrow, unrealistic set of standards that allows for no alternative.” Hinshaw identifies academic pressures, sexed-up pop culture, Internet voyeurism and girl-on-girl bullying as sources of overwhelming stress and conflicting ideals for girls. Yet his study suffers from an identity crisis of its own: while Hinshaw shines in conversations with troubled young girls, he plays the role of cultural critic rather than psychologist in offering elaborate analyses of TV shows such as Ugly Betty
and Grey’s Anatomy
while providing little hard evidence—or testimonies from girls themselves—on how these shows affect girls. Hinshaw neglects his strengths and, in turn, offers little in the way of solutions.

January 22, 2009
Verdict: Drawing on recent studies and professional experience, Hinshaw compellingly argues that depression is increasing in teenage girls because of our culture's overemphasis on achievement and success. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.] Background: Hinshaw, the chair of UC Berkeley's department of psychology, reveals sobering statistics on the mental health of teen girls (one-fourth of this population is at risk for some manifestation of depression), arguing that modern cultural expectations pressure girls to live up to two opposed ideals: traditional femininity and feminism. In trying to synthesize these ideals, young women conform to a narrow cultural standard that leaves little room for a genuine personality to shine through. The author offers advice on how to overcome the conflicting messages and achieve self-discovery.-Nick Fanklin, Brooklyn P.L., NY

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2009
Drawing on more than30 years of experience working with teen girls and a recent, focused 10-year study, Hinshaw, chair of the Department of Psychology at UC Berkeley, offers this highly readable, fascinating account of the lives of contemporary young women. The title refers to the triple, contradictory expectations held out to teen girls: they should adhere to traditional feminine qualities (nice, kind, pretty); they should adhere to traditional masculine qualities (competitive, high-achieving); and they should funnel these qualities into narrow personality types that leave little room for individuality, exploration, or mistakes. In probing chapters that deftly synthesize sobering statistics, case anecdotes, and personal observation, Hinshaw makes a strong case that teen girls are in crisis. With extensive examples from film, television, and books (Gossip Girls and its sister series are quoted extensively), Hinshaw cites ways that contemporary culture puts girls at risk; and a final chapter looks at possible solutions. With a full appendix of resources, this balanced, thorough, compassionate title is required reading for parents, teachers, and teens of both sexes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)