Gifted Females, Gifted Males

See Jane Win for Girls: A Smart Girl's Guide to Success by Sylvia Rim. Minneapolis, Free Spirit Publishing, 2003.

Smart Boys: Talent, Manhood, and the Search for Meaning. Barbara A. Kerr, Ph.D. and Sanford J. Cohn, Ph.D. Scottsdale, AZ: Great Potential Press, Inc., 2001
This book breaks new ground in the field of gifted education. The authors decided to investigate young gifted males after observing smart boys underachieving and growing discouraged in school. The difficulties continued into adulthood—these struggling gifted boys often grew into gifted men who felt discontented in careers and personal relationships. Kerr and Cohn review the scant research on gifted boys and the literature on masculinity. They trace the unique concerns that confront gifted males in our society from pre-school through adulthood. In other chapters, a diverse variety of boys are discussed, including boys of color, economically disadvantaged boys, and “sissies, fat boys, and nerds.” The authors also discuss how parents can shape or hinder emotional and psychological development in gifted males. Finally, the book offers a new perspective on the needs of gifted males. The text is easy reading and informative for both educators and parents.

Girls and Young Women Leading the Way. Karnes, Frances A. and Suzanne M. Bean. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Press. 612-338-2068
Leading the Way tells the true stories of twenty girls and young women from around the country who have exhibited leadership. Each story describes a vision, a goal-setting and an accomplishment. It is followed by a question and activity section that provides the reader with ideas on leadership opportunities in their own community and school. The first ten stories are written by girls and young women who made a change in their communities. The second ten stories are written by young leaders who made a change at their school. They all saw something that needed doing; they created a plan; they put their ideas into action. After presenting these twenty stories, the authors offer a Leadership Handbook in Part Three of the book that defines leadership and discusses how leadership has changed throughout history. This section also includes quotes from famous women leaders and books on women leaders who have inspired others.

Girls and Young Women Inventing. Karnes, Frances A. and Suzanne M. Bean. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Press. 612-338-2068.
Inventing features twenty girls and young women who tell their own first-person stories about their inventions. They describe how they came up with their ideas and then made their ideas into working inventions. In addition to these stories, the authors describe the steps inventors use to turn an idea into a useful, working invention. The book also includes organizations and books to help girls and young women develop their talent of inventing. Even if the reader never becomes an inventor, he/she will surely think more creatively after reading this book.

Work Left Undone: Choices and Compromises of Talented Females. By Sally Morgan Reis, Creative Learning Press, Storrs, CT, 1998.
Reis provides a very comprehensive look at the problems gifted girls face in reaching their potential. She begins by laying out the complex choices faced by women in our current society, particularly the conflicts felt acutely by gifted girls. Subsequent chapters address particular groups of obstacles and barriers including those that are "external" such as cultural attitudes, lack of family supports, etc., and those that are internal such as psychological factors and personality issues. Reis addresses special groups of girls including girls who are culturally diverse or economically disadvantaged, women in science and mathematics, talented artists, older gifted women, and women who opt for a conventional career. The book ends with a chapter devoted to recommendations and a chapter with a broad array of resources of all types.

Great Books for Girls by Kathleen Odean. New York: Ballantine Books, 1997.

Remarkable Women. Perspectives on Female Talent Development. Edited by Karen Arnold, Kathleen D. Noble, and Rena T. Subotnik. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, 1996.
This book is a compilation of research and thinking about gifted females. Chapters deal with women with different areas of talent, women from different cultures, and women of different generations. This book is recommended for those with a serious interest in the development of gifted girls who desire a more scholarly treatment of the issues.

Smart Girls Two by Barbara A Kerr. Dayton, OH: Ohio Psychology Press, 1994.
This book deals with the reasons why so many young women fail to live up to their potential. It deals with issues that confront girls throughout their development - from early childhood to motherhood and family. Like its predecessor above, this book is very readable and is recommended for parents, educators, teens and young adults.

Smart Girls Gifted Women by Barbara A. Kerr. Dayton, OH: Ohio Psychology Press, 1991.
This book is a classic on gifted females. The author conducted a study of her female classmates in a gifted program. Her results highlight the special obstacles that females face and suggests some possible solutions. This book is very readable and would be helpful to parents, educators, and even teens.