Real Mean Girls - Bully

By LA Ferguson

In the past, bullying was considered a problem among boys and was viewed as physical intimidation and violence. Experts are finding that bullying and cyberbullying among girls is on the rise. Although this type of bullying is not physical, the psychological nature of it is more insidious. The effects can be more serious and harmful to the individual and leave irrevocable damages to them for years.

A new study has found that girls at same-sex schools feel greater pressure to adhere to gender norms and were bullied if they didn’t more than those at mixed-gender schools. Perhaps even more surprising, the same researchers say that girls at same-sex schools evaluated their self-worth based more on social confidence than cognitive confidence. The study found that girls at mixed-gender schools weighed academics more heavily than social prowess.

 

Some feminists would argue that in the middle-school years, boys pressure girls to fulfill certain gender norms. But William M. Bukowski, one of the researchers in the girls-school study and the director for the Center of Research in Human Development at Concordia University in Montreal, argues that boys aren’t imposing stereotypes on girls. 

In fact, girls are imposing stereotypes on each other. “It’s called the social-dosage hypothesis,” Bukowski says. “When girls are together without the presence of boys, they’re going to get an extra-strong dose of what it is to be female.” Hence, girls at the same-sex school feel more pressure to be “girly.”

Parents should not assume that just because their child is female that they won't have a tendency to become a bully. Be on the lookout if your child is behaving rude and malicious in manner. Watch how they interact with other children. If they show signs of resentment or engage in a power struggle, they might have issues with bullying. Also as a parent, be sure to talk to your child about bullying to ensure they know what bullying is and how wrong it is to abuse others in any form. 

Talking to your children is the best way to find out if they are having issues with. Keeping this line of communication open is important because it helps your child know they can always come to you for help.