Girl Interrupted (Boy Interrupting)

Helping girls find (and keep) their voices

Let me tell you about Robyn

When my patient Robyn, a bright and curious college Freshman, first came to therapy one of her complaints was that she felt “dumb” and had trouble speaking up in group settings. “What’s wrong with me?” she wanted to know. Robyn had excellent grades and described boisterous conversations about books, movies, and the latest party with close friends, but outside her friend circle she remained quiet. A little more exploration revealed that growing up, Robyn felt her parents, though loving, “had ears for my brother and eyes for me.” By this, Robyn meant they listened to and showed interest in her brother, but mainly focused on her appearance, whether complimenting or nitpicking her body. Like most girls, Robyn had come to understand her appearance was her most important asset, and she believed her intellectual contributions were uninteresting. This was reaffirmed in school and at work where Robyn was frequently interrupted. One of her male supervisors had also commented on her “smokin’ bod.”

Girl Interrupted, Boy Interrupting

It’s not all in Robyn’s head (or yours or your daughter’s). It’s a fact: Robyn’s living in a culture in which women speak less in mixed company and are…