Illustrated Medical Indoor Gymnastics: Or a System of Medico-Hygienic Exercises (1856)

In Your Daughters’ Bedroom psychotherapist Joyce McFadden argues that mothers loom large in the psyche of young girls and that, in their quest to create perfect daughters, mothers may be hurting them instead. By making offhanded comments that impair their daughter’s confidence or hiding facts about themselves as sexual women, mothers can unintentionally cause girls to feel isolated, left alone to confront their burgeoning sexuality during the most confusing time of their lives.

Drawing on the personal testimonies of more than a thousand women, McFadden weaves together their stories about sexuality, self esteem, and the origins of their feelings. The result is a rich and powerful narrative about the complex mother and daughter bond and its enduring impact on women’s lives.