Research suggests that many girls’ confidence takes a nosedive as early as eight years old. A 2018 poll found that their confidence drops by 30% from ages 8 to 14. It’s no surprise when many look to social media apps for likes and validation.
So what can we do to help boost girls’ self-esteem? Eight-year-old Lianna Dozier has some ideas.
The Atlanta tween wrote a children’s book entitled Don’t Call Me Pretty.
“I wanted to write a book for girls my own age, so they would love themselves and not go through bad things in life,” she said. “I started talking to my mom about things that bother me and things that make me insecure. I also asked her questions about what her life was like and how she felt as a little girl.”
So she and her mother, Lisamarie Thomas, co-wrote the book which helps girls “look at themselves in a good way instead of comparing themselves to everyone else.”
When I Grow Up
Even though she’s only eight, the young author has big aspirations for her book and herself.
She hopes to start an after-school program and charity for young girls to show them how to believe in themselves, even when they don’t.
“I think that young children everywhere would love to have another child read a story that they wrote and speak to them on these things,” Lianna said. “I know that I am just a child but I think this is important. So I would like to help.”
When she grows up, Lianna would like to be a doctor who helps kids. “I would like to become a child psychologist when I graduate from college. I have always wanted to help other kids and I believe that everyone can be a better person if they have someone to help them,” she added.
Kudos to Lianna for taking a stand for girls and showing them that even in a world where beauty seems to be most important, they can challenge the status quo.
Follow Lianna and Lisamarie on Instagram at @Lisamarie _The_Author.
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