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Hilary Levey Friedman Ph.D.

About

Hilary Levey Friedman is a sociologist and expert on popular culture encompassing childhood and parenting, competitive afterschool activities, beauty pageants, reality TV, education, and more. She teaches in the Education Department at Brown University and is pursuing a JD to advocate for children's rights. Her first book, Playing to Win: Raising Children in a Competitive Culture, is about children's competitive afterschool activities, and her second book, Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of Beauty Pageants in America, tells the story of American feminism through the lens of beauty pageants.

Books by Hilary Levey Friedman Ph.D.
Recent Posts
Parental Participation Prizes

Everyone has an opinion on participation trophies, but here is some practical advice for parents and coaches for the fall season.

Everyone has an opinion on participation trophies, but here is some practical advice for parents and coaches for the fall season.

Is it Mature to Be Competitive?

Are children involved with competitive activities more or less mature than their peers?

Are children involved with competitive activities more or less mature than their peers?

Not Just High Achievers

How can we understand the impressive performances on Child Genius? It's more than just brains, it's also achievement patterns.

How can we understand the impressive performances on Child Genius? It's more than just brains, it's also achievement patterns.

Should Kids Diversify or Specialize After School?

When people ask me about afterschool activities for their elementary school-age kids– how many they should be in, which activity will help them get into college someday, etc.– I explain that they should approach those afterschool hours the same way they approach that Sunday buffet.

When people ask me about afterschool activities for their elementary school-age kids– how many they should be in, which activity will help them get into college someday, etc.– I explain that they should approach those afterschool hours the same way they approach that Sunday buffet.

Measuring Ambition in Today’s Youth

In our competitive culture, today's young people need to understand how to prove their ambition. Demonstrating ambition serves them in a multitude of ways - not the least of which is in gaining acceptance to a College or University of their choice. But how is this intangible quality shown, and measured?

In our competitive culture, today's young people need to understand how to prove their ambition. Demonstrating ambition serves them in a multitude of ways - not the least of which is in gaining acceptance to a College or University of their choice. But how is this intangible quality shown, and measured?

How Do You Spell R-E-S-I-L-I-E-N-T?

This year’s 86th Scripps National Spelling Bee demonstrated how competition can help teach kids resilience. Not only was this winner Arvind Mahankai’s fourth attempt at the gold trophy, but it was a repeat performance for ten out of the eleven finalists.

This year’s 86th Scripps National Spelling Bee demonstrated how competition can help teach kids resilience. Not only was this winner Arvind Mahankai’s fourth attempt at the gold trophy, but it was a repeat performance for ten out of the eleven finalists.