Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
Encyclopedia
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls is a 1994 book written by Dr. Mary Pipher
. This book takes a look at the effects of societal pressures on American adolescent girls, and utilizes many case studies
from the author's experience as a therapist.
.
However, studies such as The Gender Similarities Hypothesis challenge the assertion that the self-esteem of girls takes a larger nosedive at the beginning of adolescence than boys.
Mary Pipher
Mary Elizabeth Pipher, also known as Mary Bray Pipher , Ph.D., is an American clinical psychologist and author. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1969 and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in...
. This book takes a look at the effects of societal pressures on American adolescent girls, and utilizes many case studies
Case study
A case study is an intensive analysis of an individual unit stressing developmental factors in relation to context. The case study is common in social sciences and life sciences. Case studies may be descriptive or explanatory. The latter type is used to explore causation in order to find...
from the author's experience as a therapist.
Summary and Case Studies
The book Reviving Ophelia is broken up into sections according to theme. The summary on this page is organized similarly.Introduction
This section introduces Pipher's theory that a great, and often negative, change comes over girls during adolescence.- Cayenne (15) The case study summarizes Cayenne’s transition from an athletic, confident child into a self-conscious adolescent who at 15 contracted Herpes
- Charlotte (15) Had divorceDivorceDivorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d parents, a 22 year old boyfriend and participated in legal drinking age. - Lori (12) She came from a family considered stable, and Pipher presents her as a well-adjusted girl in contrast to other case studies.
Families
This section analyzes the role of families in the development of adolescent girls.- Francesca (14) A Lakota girl adopted by CaucasianCaucasianCaucasian may refer to:*Anything from the Caucasus region**Peoples of the Caucasus or Caucasian peoples, humans from the Caucasus region**Languages of the Caucasus, languages spoken in the Caucasus region...
parents, and searching for a cultural identity. - Lucy (15) In order to recover from LeukemiaLeukemiaLeukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, Lucy had to defer to her doctors’ and parents’ decisions. After recovery, Lucy sought to re-discover her personal identity. - Leah (18) and Jody (16) Two girls from a disciplined home, whom Dr. Pipher considers to be successful, but not very individualized.
- Abby and Elizabeth These two sisters grew up in a more liberal household, but seemed to struggle through adolescence. Abby barely graduated high school, and Elizabeth became pregnant during her junior year of high school.
- Rosemary (14) She grew up in a liberal household that encouraged individualization. During adolescence, she became rebellious and self-conscious
Mothers
This section focuses specifically on mother-daughter relationships during adolescence.- Jessica (15) and her mother, Brenda Jessica’s mother had worried about her daughter’s truancyTruancyTruancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to medical conditions...
. Pipher encouraged Jessica to form goals and individualize herself. - Sorrel (16) and her mother, Fay When Sorrel came outComing outComing out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
to her mother as a lesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, Fay took her to see Pipher to make sure that she was adjusting properly. - Whitney (16) and mother, Evelyn Whitney initiated the request for therapy. The relationship between the mother and the daughter was strained because Whitney was sexually active with her boyfriend and also due to Evelyn’s “resentment” of the relationship her husband had with their daughter.
Fathers
This section focuses on relationships between fathers and their adolescent daughters.- Katie (16) and her father, Pete Kate was the main caretakerCaretakerCaretaker usually refers to one of the following:* British word for janitor* Property caretaker, a person who cares for a property* Caretaker government, a temporary government...
of her father, who was a single parentSingle parentSingle parent is a term that is mostly used to suggest that one parent has most of the day to day responsibilities in the raising of the child or children, which would categorize them as the dominant caregiver...
with muscular dystrophyMuscular dystrophyMuscular dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper locomotion. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.In the 1860s, descriptions of boys who...
. The two were close, but Peter feared that Katie was losing her adolescence taking care of her sick father. - Holly (14) and her father, Dale Holly and Dale had a distant relationship. Dale was a single father, and Holly was an adolescent obsessed with PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. The two came to therapy after Holly had attempted suicideSuicideSuicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
after her boyfriend, Lyle, broke up with her. Pipher encouraged the two to develop their father-daughter relationship. - Klara (15) and her father, Kurt Kurt expected his daughter to fit a feminized role, and so did Klara’s boyfriend, Phil. Pipher encouraged Klara and Kurt to work through the emotions they had regarding the loss of Klara’s mother to cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Divorce
The section of the book focuses on the effect that the parents' divorce can have on their adolescent daughters.- Julia (14) She was a member of a blended familyStepfamilyA stepfamily, also known as a blended family or reconstituted family, is a family in which one or both members of the couple have children from a previous relationship...
, and came in to see Pipher after Julia’s arrest for being a minor in possessionMinor In PossessionIn the United States, a Minor in Possession, or a MIP, is a criminal offense, typically a misdemeanor. Anyone who is under the age of 21 and possesses alcohol in the United States, with the exception of special circumstances, is violating the law of the state...
. Pipher encouraged Julia to deal with the stress of her mother’s remarriage without the use of alcoholAlcoholIn chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
. - Myra (14) Myra lived with her mother Lois, who had divorced Myra’s father after having an affair. Myra resented her mother for the divorce, but her father was not capable of taking care of her. When Myra lashed out physically at Lois, the mother decided to go to therapy with Myra.
- Amy (12) Amy was the subject of a custody battleChild custodyChild custody and guardianship are legal terms which are used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent's duty to care for the child.Following ratification of the United...
as her parents divorced. Pipher encouraged the parents to let Amy stay with her grandparents while they finalized the terms of the divorce. - Jasmin (13) Her parents were going through an amicable divorce, and wanted to minimize any negative effect the divorce would have on their daughter.
Depression
This section analyzes the onset of depression during the adolescence of girls.- Monica (15) She became depressed due to bullying at school about her weight. Pipher encouraged Monica to join clubs, begin to exercise in a healthy way, and find a way to adjust to adolescence while maintaining her “true self”.
- Cindy (14) Cindy “wasn’t growing physically, socially, emotionally or intellectually.” After her parent’s neglect, she responded positively to the attention she got during the therapy sessions.
- Penelope (15) She was a daughter of wealthy parents. She had overdosed on pills after her parents refused to buy her a car. Penelope agreed to meet with Pipher again, but soon after the session Penelope attempted suicide again, and Pipher never saw her after that second suicide attempt.
Self-Mutilation
This section focuses on cases where, in their depression, adolescent girls turned to self-mutilationSelf-harm
Self-harm or deliberate self-harm includes self-injury and self-poisoning and is defined as the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue most often done without suicidal intentions. These terms are used in the more recent literature in an attempt to reach a more neutral terminology...
.
- Tammy (17) She came to therapy after her mother discovered her cutting her breasts with a razor. Tammy had begun cutting as a result of her abusive relationshipRelational aggressionRelational aggression, also known as covert aggression or covert bullying, is a type of aggression in which harm is caused through damage to relationships or social status within a group rather than by means of actual or threatened physical violence...
with her boyfriend. Pipher encouraged Tammy’s parents to explore their daughter’s relationship with her boyfriend, and continued to work with Tammy one-on-one. - Gail (15) She had a habit of burning herself with cigarettes. This habit grew out of how she felt helpless and angry about the issues of the world like HIVHIVHuman immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and the rape of women in Bosnia. Pipher encouraged Gail to volunteer in her community, and her cravings to burn herself lessened.
Eating Disorders
This section focuses on eating disorders, and the issues they arise from. Also, the expectation of beauty for American women is examined.- Heidi (16) Heidi was a bulimic gymnast. Her eating disorder arose from pressures to stay thin for gymnastics and for appearance. She came to therapy because her binging and purging had been interfering with her relationships with her boyfriend and her family.
- Prudence (16) She was plump and bulimic. Her brother, Greg, had died three years prior in a car accident. Pipher encouraged Prudence to use her brother’s memory as a way to motivate herself during her recovery from bulimia.
- Samantha (16) She was an anorexic who prided herself on her thinness and self-discipline. Pipher worked with Samantha to get her to realize that her anorexia was a problem instead of a virtue.
- Violet (18) She was living in a homeless shelter after leaving foster care. Violet was a compulsive eater. Food provided her comfort in her foster homesFoster careFoster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
and her fat felt like a defense against men who would be sexually interested in her. She met with Pipher for a while, but left for CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
after a few months.
Drugs and Alcohol
This section focuses on the culture of substance use and its effect of adolescent girls.- Tracy (13) She was expelled from school for having alcohol in her backpack, and her parents had discovered cigarettes in her dresser. Pipher encouraged the parents to give Tracy more privacy, and she also encouraged Tracy to channel her energy into non-chemical activities.
- Rita (16) She came in after being arrested for drunk drivingDriving under the influenceDriving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
. She had grown up with an alcoholic father, and wanted to avoid alcoholismAlcoholismAlcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
herself. She was dating a 19 year old alcoholic boy. Pipher encouraged Rita to look for and create healthy relationships. - Casey (18) Casey’s parents brought her in to see Pipher after the discovery of diet pills substantiated her parents’ suspicion that Casey was using drugs. Casey told Pipher that she had started drinking so that she could have sex with boys with the goal of winning their approval. Pipher encouraged Casey to take control of her sexuality.
- Kelli (15) She came into therapy after her parents found marijuana in her bedroom. Kelli also admitted to Pipher that she had used LSDLSDLysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
and hallucinogenic mushrooms. Pipher encouraged Kelli to explore non-chemical ways to alter consciousness.
Sex
This section focuses on the effect of sex on the lives of adolescent girls, and gender roles.- Christy (14) She was the child of CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
parents. She expressed frustration at the pressures that she felt to have sex. - Lizzie (17) She had been experiencing trouble at school because she had cheatedInfidelityIn many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
on her boyfriend while at summer camp. Pipher helped Lizzie work through the situation emotionally, and gradually things improved for Lizzie at school. - Angela (16) Her family disowned her after she became pregnant. The baby’s father, Todd, did not help her with the pregnancy nor the baby. Pipher helped Angela define what she wanted in a relationship.
Sexual Violence
This section focuses on the effect of sexual violence on the lives of adolescent girls and their families.- Ellie (15) Three men had rapeRapeRape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d Ellie after following her out of a bowling alley. Pipher helped Ellie and her family cope emotionally with this event. - Terra (15) She was involved in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. She had also been sexually abused by her step-grandfather as a young child. Pipher asked Terra to view her current abusive relationship in connection to the sexual abuse she suffered as a child.
Critical and Public Reception
Reviving Ophelia was first published in 1994, and was received well by the public, as evidenced by a three year stretch on the New York Times Bestseller list, with part of that time spent occupying the #1 slot. The book also received positive reviews.However, studies such as The Gender Similarities Hypothesis challenge the assertion that the self-esteem of girls takes a larger nosedive at the beginning of adolescence than boys.