Girl on Girl Aggression Bullying

1. Relational
Aggression
GIRL-ON-GIRL
AGGRESSION

3.  Girls and boys can both be mean but girls internalize
it more and ruminate on it
 Girls are mean to each other for trivial reasons
 The effects can be long lasting into adulthood
 Girls are good at hiding their aggressive behavior
they know which teachers are tuned in
 Relational aggression can include cyber bullying
 It is our responsibility to maintain a safe
environment
 Relational aggression is COVERT and is everywhere
ODDS AND ENDS

4. Relational aggression, also known as
covert aggression, or covert bullying is a
type of aggression in which harm is
caused through damage to one‟s
relationships or social status.
(Wikipedia, 2012)
RELATIONAL AGGRESSION DEFINITION

5. Relationship Manipulation
Subtle and behind one‟s back
Social Exclusion
Being left out
Reputation Attacking
Spreading rumors – especially on-line
Using Demeaning Gestures
Rolling eyes and dirty looks
(Fraser-Thill, 2012)
TYPES OF RELATIONAL AGGRESSION

6. Painful hurt feelings
Low self-esteem
Unable to focus
Lack of motivation
Isolation
Anger
Retribution and revenge
Self injury
Poor academics
Time out of class in guidance or office
EFFECTS

7. Cultural Causes of Bullying
Violence is acceptable (WWF)
Institutional Causes
Place doesn‟t have high standards for anti-bullying
Social Issues
Recognition for negative behaviors
Family Issues
Discipline at home is inconsistent or over the top
The Bully's Personal History
Past experience of social rejection or academic failure
Having Power
Want to wield it and show off the power
Provocative Victims
UNDERLYING REASONS
("WHY DO PEOPLE," 2009)

8.  Change in friends
 Drop in grades
 Sad look
 Late to class
 Last one to leave class
 Preoccupied
 Change in appearance
 Long sleeves in hot weather (cutting)
 Weight loss
 Absenteeism
SIGNS TO WATCH FOR

9. Dr. Erin Willer
 Dr. Erin Willer In her seminar Helping Girls Cope and
Communicate About Social Aggression Dr. Willer
presents a three step exercise
 Dr. Willer is an assistant professor at the University
of Denver
 Former high school English and speech teacher
 Research focuses on how females manage social
aggression
(Willer, 2009)
POSSIBLE RESOLUTIONS

10. Ask student to recall an incidence of
meanness
Give them the opportunity to talk or write
about it
Instead of “ruminating” or gut churning about
it this gives language to thoughts and
emotions
Reflection helps to make sense out of life‟s
events
STEP ONE – REFLECT ON MEANNESS

11. Draw a metaphor for the meanness
This puts the focus on the problem and not
the person
An example of a metaphor for love might be a
warm blanket
An example of a metaphor for kindness might
be a cat licking her kitten
An example of meanness might be a cat
scratching the couch when the couch didn‟t do
anything to the cat
STEP TWO – CREATE METAPHORS

12.  Have the student draw a redemption metaphor
 Focus on the good that can come out of it
 Normal to feel bad when girls are mean but try to
find the good
 An example might be moving to a new town is hard
but a new home with a big bedroom would be great
 A student example was a drawing of two peas in a
pod
 Engaging in telling the story and drawing metaphors
helps students make sense of the situation
STEP THREE – POSITIVE METAPHOR

13.  This three step process is but one possible course of
action
 Communication and a sense of connection to others
can go a long way in tamping down RA
 Be aware that RA is happening in our school, but to
see it you have to look for it
CONFLICT RESOLUTION

14.  The Ophelia Project
http://www.opheliaproject.org/main/ra_faq.htm
 Do Something
http://www.dosomething.org
 Why are those girls so mean?
http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/bullying/596-why-are-
those-girls-so-mean.gs
 Inside The School
http://www.insidetheschool.com/
 A Way Through
http://www.awaythrough.com/educators.htm
ON-LINE RESOURCES

15.  Relational Aggression in Girls by Jamie Kupkovits
 Mean Girls: 101 1/2 Creative Strategies for Working With
Relational Aggression by Kaye Randall, LISW-CP & Allyson A.
Bowen, LISW-CP and Susan Bowman
 „‟Odd Girl Out‟‟ by R. Simmons
 ‟Queen Bees and Wannabes‟‟ by R. Wiseman
SUGGESTED READING

16.  DeBruyn, R. L., & Larson, J. L. (2009). You can handle them all. (2nd ed.).
Manhattan, Ka: The Master Teacher.
 Fraser-Thill, R. (2012). Social aggression forms of social aggression.
Retrieved
fromhttp://tweenparenting.about.com/od/behaviordiscipline/a/Social-
Aggression.htm
 Why do people bully?. (2009). Retrieved from
http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/why -do-people-bully.html
 Wikipedia. (2012, August 05). Relational aggression. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_aggression
 Willer, E. (2009, October 26). How to help students cope with girl on girl
aggression. Retrieved from http://www.insidetheschool.com/free-
reports/how-to-help-students-cope-with-girl-on-girl-aggression
(hanging indent intended)
REFERENCES