Stories For Raising Strong Girls

It’s time to replace the old stories of virgins in need with stories of brave and strong girls and women who can do anything.

Times are changing, and our ways of raising our children need to change, too. This also applies to the tales we tell them. Gender roles have an impact on children’s identity development.

With this in mind, today we will talk about the importance of stories when it comes to raising girls so that they become strong and independent. 

Gender roles and identity

For centuries, our society has promoted differences in upbringing between boys and girls. Boys learn to be strong, to suppress their emotions, to become leaders and to be independent. At the same time, women are encouraged to be obedient, sweet, and emotional, and to play a passive and supportive role toward others.

These stereotypical ideas still live on in our society, but to a lesser extent than in the past. They constitute an obstacle to the general personal development of both boys and girls. This is because these predetermined roles have a tendency to stifle and inhibit their needs and desires if they do not fit into those particular roles.

It is therefore the family’s responsibility to raise the children and protect them from the influence of society. Your nuclear family needs to provide children with the tools they need to manage their experiences. Thus, children need clear guidance to prevent these stereotypes from affecting their personalities.

Stories as tools in upbringing

Stories can be powerful tools for introducing values ​​to children. They can also teach the little ones how the world works. Through the characters, they get to experience different ways of handling important situations, and the consequences that follow.

Children identify with the main characters of the stories, and can then express their fears and thoughts, while learning about new ways of relating to the world.

With this in mind, we need to be careful about which stories we choose for our children. We need to remember that childhood is the time when identities are formed and our deepest convictions are founded.

We must therefore choose stories that communicate information and values ​​that are relevant and consistent with what we want our children to absorb.

Stories for raising strong girls

In this article, we will look at a selection of books that help girls feel powerful and capable, ready to take the initiative in their lives and truly love themselves.

These books are not just for girls. Remember that it is just as important to teach our boys that gender roles are mandatory. They need to know that they can cry without being judged. They should also learn that girls can become athletes without being underestimated.

Goodnight stories for rebel girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo

This storybook for strong-willed girls is a collection of 100 short stories from reality about the lives of various startling, brave and determined women. It is about women who have written history and who serve as an example of the unlimited potential of a woman with a passion. Dreaming big dreams is the perfect way to end each day.

Me… Jane by Patrick McDonell

To continue on the theme of inspiring stories from reality – do not miss this tribute to researcher Jane Goodall. This is the story of the little English girl who dreams of traveling to Africa and meeting the animals in her books. Her dream comes true, and when she grows up she becomes a world-famous primatologist. 

Twice Upon a Time by Belén Gaudes and Pablo Macías

This series consists of new versions of some of the most well-known fairy tales for children. In the new versions, the princesses are not just virgins in need, and the villains are not only evil. All characters show a great drive to be themselves.

Yo voy conmigo, by Raquel Díaz Reguera (available in Spanish only)

This is a wonderful story about getting to know yourself again. It’s a story about a young girl who changes things in herself to make a boy like her. But, once the boy begins to respond to her courtship, she no longer recognizes herself. So she begins to recreate her true self, as she learns not to change in order to please others.

Giraffes can not dance, can they? by Giles Andreae

This great story is a tribute to perseverance and believing in oneself. By following the main character, Chufa, girls can learn that, despite their limitations, they are more capable than they can ever imagine.