Ep 15: Girls Who Embrace Their Introvertedness

Quote: “I would like the parents of introverted children to know that supporting our passions and interests is important and that we will find our individual ways of being a leader. Even though we are quiet, we are still capable of being confident.”

This episode of On Educating Girls unapologetically celebrates the introverts who live, learn and work among us. Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, launched a conversation that has, over the last decade, become a full-blown movement to better understand what introverts bring to the table and to support and empower “quiet” children, often erroneously judged as painfully shy or socially awkward. If there is a quiet girl in your life–or inside you—you will want to listen.

Join host Trudy Hall as she learns how Betsy Gugle, Director of Lower School at Columbus School for Girls, and her teaching colleagues have embraced the challenge of affirming introverts in a world that is still biased toward extroverts, integrating awarenss of all personality temperaments into the school culture. We learn that language and labels matter in this important work, as does the modeling of adults who want to ensure the voices and talents of self-described introverts are honed and honored. In a world that has become too noisy, perhaps it is the introverts that can lead the way?

Resources You Should Know About:
ICGS (International Coalition of Girls Schools): https://girlsschools.org

Columbus School for Girls: https://www.columbusschoolforgirls.org/

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Cannot Stop Talking, Susan Cain

Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts, Susan Cain

Additional Resources:
● The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World, Marti Olsen Lancy, Psy.D.
● Quiet Kids: Help Your Introverted Child Succeed in an Extroverted World, Christine Fonseca
● The Elegance of a Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery
● Quiet Revolution Resources for Schools
● Quiet Revolution Resources for Parents
● Article: How the Definition of Leadership is Changing for Women by Kathryn Sollmann (Forbes
Magazine)
● Article: Engaging Quiet Kids by Susan Cain and Emily Klein (Independent School Magazine)
● Article: What are Introverts like as Children, Jenn Granneman (Psychology Today) website · Columbus School for Girls · Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Cannot Stop Talking · Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts · National Coalition of Girls' Schools · Transcript.pdf — PDF (126.6 KB)