Super Short Summary

In 1997, historian Joan Jacobs Brumberg published The Body Project, tracing the evolution of girlhood in Western, particularly American, culture from the 19th century to the present. Brumberg argues that modern teenage girls focus more on their outward appearance than their inner lives, influenced by media and societal pressures that glamorize physical attractiveness. Using diaries, photographs, advertisements, and postcards, she illustrates shifting attitudes towards menstruation, clothing, and sexuality, expressing concern over the lack of support for girls' emotional development and the pressures of early sexual maturity without cultural protections. Sensitive topics include discussions of body image issues and the sexualization of young girls.