Caitlin Moran: compliments are good for you

‘The Teenage Girl Hate-In that’s in every school is so brutal, it takes my breath away’
MARK HARRISON

Imagine if teenage girls could accept compliments. If they could catch one, and hold it, as easily as they catch a rounders ball on the playing field. If they did not dodge it – “No, you are clever” – or drop it – “You’re insane; I look awful!” – but let it land in their hand, and smile; knowing that here, as on the sports field, this catch means they have won a point for their team.

For any compliment caught by any teenage girl means she’s winning a point for our team. All the older, wiser women want you to take as many compliments as you can. We want your heads to be a pinboard of sweet, truthful, happy things said to you. Things