Mean Girls ! Monica Harrison Counselor Elmore County Alternative Program A Look At Girl Bullying

The U. S. Department of Education ‘s Office of Civil Rights is collecting new data beginning in 2010 to ensure students’ rights The new data will cover topics such as students’ participation in algebra and other college prep subjects, retention, teacher experience/absenteeism, school funding, HARASSMENT, restraint/seclusion, and additional information related to discipline. Complaints and court settlements for violation of student civil rights have cost school districts millions of dollars  Section 504  Americans with Disabilities Amendment ACT  Title VI (race and national origin)  Title XI (gender, pregnancy, parenting student)  Age Discrimination Act  Equal Access Act  Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (disclosure of student information)

Old School = Female Bullying New Term= Relational Aggression RA = Emotional Violence and Bullying Behaviors focused on damaging an individual’s social connections within the peer group. Use relationships instead of fists.

Relational Aggression: Rumors Cliques Social Rejection Gossiping Social Exclusion Social Aggression

Mean Girls’ Weapons Name Calling *Cyber Bullying Insults*Sexual Harassment Ignoring*Intimidation Taunting *Physical Assaults Excluding *Body Language Teasing Bossing someone Texting Facebook

Body Language Packs a Punch!  Eye Rolling  Hand Gestures  Facial Expressions  Whispering  “Attitude Stance”  Grouping

Problem Solving Tips Teach girls to become self-aware of facial expressions and body language. Maybe they are not aware how others perceive them. Even adolescents do not always read facial expressions correctly (Especially Special Ed. Students) Perception is key

RAGE Invoking Issues Facing Girls  Parental/Family Issues  Grief & Loss/Abandonment  Lack of Social Skills  Lack of Connected Relationships  Perceived Disrespect  Boys, Boys, Boys (oh, boy!)

Relational Aggression (RA) Universal Economic Racial Ethnic Age Educational Level

WHY Relational Aggression  Retaliation  Lack of coping skills in dealing with conflict  Power and status  Fear & Jealousy  Lack of connected relationships  AGAIN (BOYS!)  Socialization  Low Self-esteem  Copying TV, movies, music, videos  Peer and parental influence  Boredom  Early Onset of Puberty  Medical

Current Stats: 70% of girls have been maltreated by their friends. NEA reports that 200,000 children miss school each month due to fear of being emotionally tormented. The #1 concern of girls ages 8-17 is being teased, embarrassed, and bullied.

Girls & Crime 2005 FBI Stats indicate: 64% increase- murder 114% increase- robbery 137% increase aggravated assault 126% increase other assaults

Girl Violence Statistics Girls constituted 18% of arrest for crimes Today – That % is increasing at an alarming rate ( Girls and Violence studies have been neglected until recently ) **********************************  School reports show nearly 80% of school fights are girl vs. girl  School counselors say they’re surprised at the complexity of the relationships in girl bullying

Girl Violence Statistics To put thing in perspective: In the last decade female juveniles arrested for violent crimes (murder, robbery, aggravated assault, etc.) increased 25% ………………………..…Vs………………… NO! % increase in arrest of male juveniles during the same time

Media and Other Influences  TV—Reality Shows! (top 10% of pre-teen viewing)  Books & Magazines  Teen Role-models  Movies- Mean Girls, Vampire Epics  Clothing-Designer  Toys: Bratz vs. Old Babies/Dolls  Music Videos – Video “Hoe”  New Cartoons  You-Tube, Internet, Instant Message, Texting

Queen Bee  The Queen has issues…  In order for Queen Bee to stay on top, she has to keep things going…  Her subordinates will do/say things for her so she will not bully them…  DO NOT put Queen Bee and victim together to confront each other…

Socioeconomic and Class Status  Teens do not differ by ethnicity on measures of overt RA and victimization  However, relationships/school rules are generally based on white middle class norms  These norms come from “hidden” rules that may not be understood by children living in poverty or from other cultural backgrounds

Establish BOUNDARIES at SCHOOL! “IN THIS PLACE, AT THIS TIME, THIS IS THE RULE.”

You explicitly let the child know, that while it may not be the custom at home or in their community, while in this school or in this classroom (BUS), these are the rules for proper behavior… In this place, at this time, this is the rule. The Safe Zone

Nice Advice If a person is not laughing anymore, then you are not joking; you are bullying If you don’t want it said or done to you, then don’t do it Foster Healthy Relationships Enforce the Golden Rule

Mean Girls can become Nice Girls !