The Secret Language of Girls

Elizabeth Levin is a professor of psychology at Laurentian University.

The basic theme of this book is that women are enriched by their
friendships with other women and speak a language that only women
understand. Individual chapters explore the history of the secret
language, the socialization of young girls and the powerful mother role,
puberty and coming of age (including a brief history of the sanitary
napkin), friendships, the roles of makeup and clothes, women in the
workplace, and growing old with the girls.

The book is based on academic research, but it is clearly a
layperson’s guide, with plenty of interviews and personal anecdotes.
While the reader is not likely to agree with all of the author’s
arguments, there is lots to laugh about and much to think about.