Feminist perspectives and practice with young women.

Primary and secondary health interventions for adolescent girls target pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, and also stress the risks and negative outcomes of girls' behaviors. Programs frequently neglect gender-specific issues, such as physical and social power imbalances, and overlook girls' strengths. Such omissions miss important opportunities for empowerment and development and ultimately shortchange girls. This article provides a feminist perspective on girls' development and suggests concrete ways for nurses in community programs to work with girls on gender-specific developmental tasks such as strengthening relationships with women and other girls, becoming comfortable with their bodies, and developing the ability to recognize and communicate their opinions.