Comments on: Author Spotlight: Liz Funk

By: Shaping Youth » Overachievers: Interview with Liz Funk Author of SuperGirls Speak Out!

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:46:15 +0000

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By: melissa

melissa — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:45:02 +0000

This book caught my eye at Border’s this weekend because I felt it was the perfect combination of Opehlia Speaks and Overachievers: Secret Lives of Driven kids – yet wonderfully scripted for young women of today. As a graduate student at a new england university, i still struggle with supergirl characteristics – where a five page resume is not enough and only 30 hours in a day would be enough for me to get 6 hours of sleep…this book presents a fresh look at a troubling, serious topic facing young women who aim high and have great expectations. thanks for the insight and sharing your story.

By: Libby

Libby — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:53:10 +0000

I think that Supergirls believe that Blair and Serena are fictional, but we’re afraid our friends, family, and boyfriends don’t see it that way. I remember when guys would comment on how gorgeous Mandy Moore was, and even though I knew about the airbrushing and money behind her image, I thought to myself that if that’s what they wanted me to look like, that’s what I’d have to look like, no matter how unattainable it actually was.

By: Berna

Berna — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:51:04 +0000

I thought there was absolutely nothing wrong with being/trying to be a Supergirl…

Until I read about the negative side-effects, and realized that I’ve been ignoring those exact symptoms – figuring that they’re signs of weakness or incapability. As a basically-obsessive-compulsive type of “supergirl”, I cannot be told that I’m not good enough for something or can’t do something. But ironically, the only one who tells me that is MYSELF.

In my opinion, we think there’s nothing wrong with us because most of the pressure is self-inflicted. What I think is just personal weakness might really be a red flag, telling MYSELF to slow down, for my own sanity. We’re taught to be tough, to be superhuman, and so we end up ignoring our own sense of “enough”.

Our generation is insatiable. What’s the cure?

By: Jenna Marie

Jenna Marie — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:09:21 +0000

thank you so much for writing a book about this. as a girl in high school right now, i feel like this is such an important subject to learn about, because it really is everywhere, and so hard not to get pulled into yourself. Congrats on your first book!

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:04:05 +0000

Although I was not a supergirl myself, I was friends with a few in high school. One friend in particular had such low self esteme that she judged herself entirely on her faults. Much like the quote above she didn’t think she was worthy of attention unless she was being successful.

I still remember the day she scored a 1600 on the SAT (back when that was the highest score possible) and spent the whole day explaining to everyone that it wasn’t a perfect score because the test was graded on a curve.

We put such pressure on girls today, to be athletic, smart, beautiful, smart, etc. But there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do all of that. Maybe we should start meaning what we say when we tell kids they can be anything they want to be, even if that is just average.

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:50:14 +0000

I will admit that I was a Supergirl. Even as 24-year-old professional, parts of me still desire to be that all-around, All-American dream girl. I’m really glad you took the time to write this book. I suffered in many of the same ways you did trying to live up to this idea of a perfect teenager. It’s becoming a serious problem in young girls today, and hopefully this book will bring the issue to the table. All it takes is a bit of education to start activism and hopefully this book will do just that.

By: Kathy H

Kathy H — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:35:09 +0000

It’s hard not to try to be a supergirl when you see how hard it is to get into college and then how tough it is to get a job once you graduate. Parents need to remind their kids, and themselves, that the meaning in life won’t be found in how much we earn.

I’ve tried to guide my teen daughter’s media consumption, but if I had it to do over again, I’d be MUCH more careful about the books she reads. When she was younger, she read Gossip Girls and nearly ALL the other chick lit books, and I think it gave her a warped view of what’s important for a girl to strive for. She’s doing ok, but every once in awhile I’ll get the impression that these books had a negative impact.

By: Shona

Shona — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:09:17 +0000

“I was working so hard and trying to do everything because I was trying to matter. I really didn’t think I had any value outside of my resume and what other people thought of me. I wanted a career and a romantic life and a glamorous New York City life, because I didn’t think that when I was in neutral, I was worthy of others’ attention or affections.”

Yes yes yes!!! I remember this experience well, and it’s still hard to try to explain to the tween girl in my life that you don’t have to be perfect at everything for them to be worthwhile!