Portlaoise author’s new book ‘Careers for Girls’ challenges gender biased careers.

Media Release

27th November 2021 For immediate release

Portlaoise author’s new book ‘Careers for Girls’ challenges gender biased careers.

Helps take the focus away from what girls can look like, to what girls can do.

With feminism, gender bias, and equality being hot topics, a new book out today aims to target all three. It encourages young girls to blaze their own trail through traditionally male-dominated careers; especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM). Author and illustrator Anne Daly, created diverse, inclusive female characters working in STEM, trade and art careers; some walk around, some use wheelchairs or wear prosthetic limbs, and all are strong and capable.

Anne states; “Many books and toys aimed at young girls seem to feature a lot of pink, with princesses, fairies and skinny dolls with makeup; all fun to play with and read about but where are the role models to balance out girls’ expectations of real life? Who can make them feel worthy and valued? Who can show girls they can become important in their field of work, invent new technology, discover new medicines, inspire others, or choose a career that could save people, animals or the planet?”

Careers for Girls features STEM, Trade and Art careers with descriptions and also includes:

• Explanation of STEM, what’s so great about it, and the barriers that stop girls getting into it.

• A note about girls supporting girls, with logo; a ‘Tap Water’ poem / jingle for green schools and homes.

• Draw yourself in your favourite career; ‘Fill In’ page; and ‘Mindfulness’ moment.

• Original hand-drawn, colourful artwork with interesting backgrounds and Irish places of interest.

Careers for Girls is about encouraging girls to find a career that suits their needs and talents; rather than one they ‘fall into’ or get ‘pushed into’ by parents, teachers and the culture they live in. More gender diversity is needed in the STEM sector, as solutions to most of the world’s big problems will come through STEM.

Anne states; “Young girls today are growing up in an image-conscious world that is teaching them to care less about ‘making a difference’ and more about making their faces look different. The women in my book want people to look at them and think smart first, not ‘pretty’ first. They want to show girls that what they can look like is not as important as what they can do. The problems in this world will be fixed by STEM, not concealer.”

About the author: Anne Daly has worked in the STEM sector building, repairing, and troubleshooting computers, both in Ireland and America. She has written for MsCareerGirl.com and is a member of ALLi and Writing.ie. She has two teenage children and credits them for inspiring in her a passion to help children understand life. This has become the driving force behind her writing. Find out more, at AnneDaly.com.

Careers for Girls. Let go the sandbags and dream BIG. CKD Press 2021. ISBN 978-1-7398175-0-3.

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(Book details and sample pages follow)

Title:

Careers for Girls.

Sub title:

Let go the sandbags and dream BIG.

Book:

Children’s / Non-fiction / Informational (Expository descriptive)

Page count and format:

48 pages / Hardback A4 Landscape.

ISBN and Price: