loved this summary by a tutor of mine from Uni many years ago ( )

I was excited to get this book through Early Reviewers - a look at the history of young women in the past century or so? Yes, please! Dyhouse is a British social historian, so it was also interesting to look at the progress made by girls & women from a slightly different perspective. Having read a lot about women's history, a lot of this was familiar to me, still it was an interesting read and Dyhouse did a good job both providing a broad overview and interesting anecdotes. I bet she's a great teacher! ( )

Dyhouse covers the popular "moral panics" that accompany the shifting roles of young women ("women") in British society, from the "New Woman" up to the present day, discussing how there is always some kinda outrage accompanying new rights or roles, always some kinda ill effect that people claim will come if women are allowed to do what they want. It's a good history, and she highlights great examples of the absurd-- yet common-- things people will say about women who dare to have a job, have consensual sex, or go out drinking, even in the 2000s.

I do wish the book had a stronger argument or narrative; there are times where it feels like a series of anecdotes. There's one bubbling under the surface, I think, that comes out in a couple places, about how moral panic can be used as an excuse to display the activities you're "panicking" about ("Oh, look at all these young women in their skimpy, sexual outfits! Just look at them!"). I wish this (or something else) had been brought out more consistently, so that the book cohered a little bit more and said a little bit more. There were also times I felt that Dyhouse lost herself in retelling the same "scandalous" stories she was decrying people for retelling. And then the last chapter kinda sputters out, ending with "Well, we still need feminism because the earning gap isn't closed yet." Yes, but... why here? Other than being about women, it doesn't really fit with the focus of the rest of the book.

Dyhouse tells the history of the attitudes towards young women as well as the feminism in general. By focusing on the concern for young women and their effect on society, Dyhouse offers a slant that's a little different from most histories of feminism. She seems to be a pro-feminist author, but her viewpoint is subtle and not the focus of the book. Most of the history is presented from an informational view with explorations of the different social factors feeding into the views of women. ( )

Girl Trouble looks at the history of feminism in Britain and the backlash women and girls faced as they gained more independence. From the late-Victorian era to modern times, the author explores the various moral panics and cultural backlashes that have sprung up in reaction to female independence. The book is well-paced, informative, and interesting. It offers an interesting look at the obstacles girls have faced over time, even as they gain new freedoms. ( )