Are girls better off today than they were at the beginning of the 20th century? This question is central to this engaging book, which traces the social history of the changes to girls’ lives in Britain from the 1880s to the present day.

The debate as to whether girls are victims or beneficiaries of social change has raged throughout modern history. Beginning with the growth of feminine self-awareness and improvements in education before the First World War, the book alerts readers to the anxiety about social disorder resulting from girls' behaviour and political …