Struggling with identity: Working with seventh- and eighth-grade gifted girls to air issues of concern

When adolescent girls ale also identified as gifted the problems of conform ity, peer acceptance, and low self-esteem often become exacerbated Middle s chool gills seem most vulnerable to two competing demands: popularity versu s academic achievement. As a result of parental, staff, and student concern s, I have been conducting a "women's issues" group with 7th- and 8th-grade gifted gills for the last four years. The issues discussed, the materials u sed, and the outcomes I have seen are the themes of this action research pa per.