"Like a slap in the face"
Porges describes the moments in her career where she had faced sexism in the workplace, saying that "these are the scenes that hit me like a slap in the face and remain seared in my memory." This simile emphasizes how much of a shock these experiences were to him and also shows how much they affected her psychologically. As such, the book is about equipping girls with the skills they need to challenge these kinds of situations and remain confident in the face of unfair or bias treatment.
The pieces of the puzzle
Porges uses a metaphor to describe how she suddenly realized that Kevin had mistaken Laura for her: "Suddenly the pieces of the puzzle began slotting together in my mind." Here, she gives a visual indicator of what happened in her mind when she came to this realization.
The path of hurdles
When considering the question of being a good parent, Porges says that there are lots of things parents consider, including whether they "should lend support or clear the path of hurdles." Here, the "path of hurdles" is a metaphor for the difficulties that children will face growing up. Porges is asking whether parents should metaphorically clear these hurdles, or allow their children to face their problems head-on.
Soap opera
Porges uses the metaphor of a "soap opera" to describe the fiasco between herself and Kevin at the Heads Club meeting. She uses this metaphor to joke about how needlessly dramatic the encounter was, in a way that was comparable to a soap opera.
Brushed aside like breadcrumbs
At the Heads Club meeting, Porges described how she confronted Kevin openly and directly about employing one of his former employees. Although this kind of confrontation would likely unnerve anyone, Porges describes how handling the situation directly meant that everyone simply shrugged it off. She describes how "my bluntness didn't exacerbate an already tense situation but instead was brushed aside like the bread crumbs still scattered around the lunch table." With this simile, Porges emphasizes how the other members of the team brushed off the confrontation.
Superpower metaphor
In Chapter 1, Porges talks about the importance of girls finding their voice. She tells us that "owning your voice is a personal superpower that every girl needs to see," a metaphor that emphasizes the power and strength that comes with finding and owning your voice.
Magic wand metaphor
Porges considers the challenge young girls might face if they choose to be mothers one day. She tells us that "there is no magic want to help then achieve work-life balance," a metaphor for the fact that there is no easy solution for women when navigating motherhood and a career.
Finding what you need from thin air
Kara uses a simile to express her beliefs about the uncertainty of adulthood: "it's like finding what you need from thin air." She uses this simile as it captures the fact that there are no easy answers in adulthood and no real guidance about how to live your life.
Carrier landings
When describing her time in the Navy, Porges tells us about some of the difficulties she faced. This includes "carrier landings," which she describes as being "like trying to thread a needle while riding a unicycle." Clearly, this is a humorously difficult thing to do, which gives us some idea of how difficult a carrier landing might be.
Buoyant in the face of change and uncertainty
Porges writes about the importance of adaptability for young girls. She describes someone who can master this skill as being someone who "is buoyant in the face of change and uncertainty." This metaphor ultimately emphasizes how someone who can adapt to change can stay afloat and resist the anxiety that often comes with change.
Sponge metaphor
Porges speaks to her student Brianna, who reflects on the lessons she learned during her childhood and adolescence. She tells Porges that young girls "are sponges," a metaphor referring to the fact that girls absorb and observe everything in their surroundings. Ultimately, Porges uses this idea to emphasize the importance of how we act around young girls, and how important our actions and words are to their growth and success.
