See Jane Hit: Why Girls Are Growing More Violent and What We Can Do Aboutit

As I read the reviews of others for See Jane Hit, I noticed that the reviewers came from either the academic side of the fence or the "in the field" side of the fence. I would like to offer a perspective from both sides in the hope that we can look at Garbarino's work from a more balanced perspective. Having taught graduate counseling courses since the 1970's and being a contemporary of Dr. Garbarino, I can tell you that his research skills and body of work in the field of adolescent psychology is highly respected by academia. Both Lost Boys and See Jane Hit are considered classics in the field. I had training with Dr. Garbarino in 2008, and can say that he has consistently updated the statistics that continue to show a marked increase in violence among girls. Also, having worked in K-12 public education for over 30 years (and for the last ten in a program for at-risk adolescents), I can attest to the fact that violence among girls is increasing just as Dr. Garbarino warned. But, past the "warnings," go to the suggestions regarding "what we can do about it" and read carefully how he outlines the positives. It is actually a "hopeful" book from a professional who has made his life's work the positive development of adolescents!

I think this book offers solid discussion about girls and growing violence. As someone who works with teens, as an author and ministry worker and speaker to teens, I'm not worried about the statistics near as much as what I see happening in the lives of some of our girls. There is more violence among girls. Our younger girls are losing their innocence, many are accepting less than any other generation in terms of relationships, and many are angry. I love working with teens. This is an amazing generation. They are intelligent. They are able to do more than their mothers and grandmothers, but the reality is that a growing segment of young girls are reacting with violence, and this book offers some insight. Does it have all the answers? Absolutely not, but neither do I, but it asks some great questions and offers some interesting information that should trigger conversations among those who care about our girls.

I completely disagree with the previous reviewer who slams this book (and others with similar concerns about today's youth) in such a tunnel vision manner. This book is an important social commentary for any parent to read, and for any adult to ponder. Any parent who has had the challenge of raising a girl in today's violence-filled society, knows the real story. The complete real story may be too big to fit into one book, but THIS book is about an issue that is very close to parents' hearts. And it should be. Is it alarmist to be concerned about today's girls when it comes to the impact of violence in their lives? I suspect readers will be intelligent enough to read this book for what it is: A concerned and informed point of view about girls and young women.