Reviving Ophelia

Pipher met Charlotte, the first girl whose story is told in the chapter, for therapy when she was 15 years old. Her story sounds very similar to Cayenne’s: She did fairly well as a child and then experienced a major downward shift when she entered junior high. She ends up in the hands of Pipher when she runs away and is told that she must attend therapy if she is to come home. Charlotte became self-conscious about her weight and developing body when she experienced bullying and harassment at school. She began dating a 22-year-old man. Their relationship was unsatisfying at best, but Charlotte was determined to help him with his chemical addictions. Pipher expresses her concern for a generation of girls whose childhoods are being lost to the pressure to appease men and fit within a narrative prescribed to them. She describes Charlotte as “evidence of a childhood lost” (65).

Pipher then relates the story of Lori, a 12-year-old girl who appeared to have her life and sense of self intact. Lori was relaxed, carefree, busy with many extracurriculars, had several close friends, stayed away from drugs and alcohol, and avoided the sex scene. She maintained a healthy relationship with both parents.