The finding of less change in self-esteem among African American girls suggests that exposure to strong admirable women can have protective and preventive effects. Self-esteem becomes too closely paired to physical attributes. Girls feel they can not measure up to society standards. Schools may subtly reinforce traditional roles, ignoring girls' response style in classrooms, discouraging certain academic pursuits, and not showing variety in roles. Between 5th and 9th grade, gifted girls send their accomplishments underground, perceiving that smarts aren't sexy.
Boys are more willing to take credit for accomplishments than girls.
Although the media, peers, and pop culture influence children, parents still hold more sway than they think when it comes to having an impact on a daughter's developing self-esteem. Monitor your own comments about your self and your daughter. Get dads involved. Girls with active hardworking dads attend college more often and are more ambitious, more successful in school, more likely to attain careers of their own, less dependent, more self protective, less likely to date an abusive man. Avoid comments about looks and beauty.