Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Sticks and Stones

A lot of people think of bullies only as fights on the playground or something bigger kids do to littlier kids and mainly boys as the perpetrators. Bullying is also very common among girls -- but it might look different to the average onlooker. It is also more common then adults think. Around 5.7 million teens are involved in bullying either as the perpetrator or the victim -- and sometimes as both!

What Girls Do:
Shake their head, roll their eyes
Spread rumors, lies
Ignore someone, give them the "silent treatment"
Use the Internet, texting, email to hurt someone
Use other people to hurt them
Leaving someone out on purpose
Name calling, threatening
Using someone to get what they want
Forcing someone to do something embarrassing in order for them to be part of your crowd

Bullying is when one person of a group of people repeatedly hurt someone else. Bullying usually involves hurting someone who is usually considered weaker or less confident and with less social standing.


Young women tease one another mainly to feel better about themselves. It is a way the perpetrator thinks will make them feel more important and have control over other people. Young women bully to:
  • get attention
  • get what they want
  • gain respect
  • become more popular
  • feel better about themselves
  • punish people they are jealous of
  • fit in

Great links on girl-to-girl bullying:

www.opheliaproject.org

www.rosalindwiseman.com

www.rachelsimmons.com