Aggression Among Girls
Girls’ involvement with the juvenile justice system is increasing in Boston and across the country. Between 1980 and 2005, the number of girls arrested increased nationally and locally, while arrests for boys declined. By 2000, girls accounted for one quarter of juvenile (under the age of eighteen) arrests for aggravated assault and one-third of those for simple assault (Zahn, et. al, 2008). Thus, an increasing number of girls are entering the juvenile justice system because they have committed a violent crime. Girls are also committing these crimes at younger ages (Prothrow-Stith & Spivak, 2005).
Increasingly, fighting among girls is an accepted part of youth culture:
Girls’ involvement with the juvenile justice system is increasing in Boston and across the country. Between 1980 and 2005, the number of girls arrested increased nationally and locally, while arrests for boys declined. By 2000, girls accounted for one quarter of juvenile (under the age of eighteen) arrests for aggravated assault and one-third of those for simple assault (Zahn, et. al, 2008). Thus, an increasing number of girls are entering the juvenile justice system because they have committed a violent crime. Girls are also committing these crimes at younger ages (Prothrow-Stith & Spivak, 2005).
Increasingly, fighting among girls is an accepted part of youth culture:
In a 2007 study, 27% of female students reported that they had been in a physical fight in the past year, while a third of those had been in a fight on school property.
Similarly, 21% of Massachusetts high school girls reported being in a physical fight in the past year. (Massachusetts Department of Education, 2006).
Girls have a number of motives for fighting: Fighting can improve a girl’s social status among peers because she exudes confidence and seems to be able to protect others (Jones, 2004).
Girls fight to defend their reputation or in self-defense against sexual harassment (Zahn, et. al, 2008). In some cases, mothers encourage their daughters to fight in order to become more “capable” or to defend the mother’s honor. Occasionally, mothers even fight alongside their daughters (Ness, 2004).
Cyberbullying, a relatively recent phenomenon, also plays a role in girls’ aggression. Cyberbullying is a form of victimization in which individuals are targeted through technology, such as posting hurtful text or images on the internet, cell phones, and other types of technology. While most bullying peaks in middle school ages, the peak risk period for cyberbullying is between ages 14 and 17, with 8% of youth in this group report experiencing it. Girls are more likely than boys to experience cyberbullying (Finkelhor, Turner, Ormrod, Hamby, and Kracke, 2009).
The experiences of physical fighting and bullying that were shared by the girls we spoke to correspond to research on girls’ aggression. The girls related that physical aggression between girls is common; they also spoke frankly about the benefits of fighting. As characterized by the girls and youth workers interviewed:
The experiences of physical fighting and bullying that were shared by the girls we spoke to correspond to research on girls’ aggression. The girls related that physical aggression between girls is common; they also spoke frankly about the benefits of fighting. As characterized by the girls and youth workers interviewed:
Physical aggression in young females is an accepted part of youth culture.
Girls use fighting to gain respect and attention.
Male peers and family members often reinforce girls’ aggression.
“Cyberbullying” reinforces and enables girls’ aggression.
A fundamental theme permeating the focus groups was that relationships between girls are often strained. Girls spoke of a high level of competition among female peers for attention from males and of aggression and distrust.
said a 13 year-old girl from the South End. Girls from other neighborhoods repeated this sentiment. A youth worker from Jamaica Plain explained how this latent distrust permeates adolescent relationships. She noted that when a boy cheats on his girlfriend, the girlfriend automatically blames the other girl.
The distrust among girls often leads to physical fights. Just under half of the girls interviewed had been in a physical fight in the past year, mostly with other girls or women. Nearly all had seen other girls physically fighting. A South End youth worker pointed to casual attitudes about fighting and an inability to articulate the reasons for fighting. They “start fights over nothing and then be wanting to beat each other up over it. And if you ask them why they are doing it, it’s just like, ‘Oh, because’.” Another youth worker shared that girls typically believe that the other person deserves to be beaten up. Recently four girls divulged to her that they were going to fight. “One of the girls in that group had heard that her boyfriend was fooling around with another girl and they were gonna fight that other girl,” she stated. Outwardly, the girls appeared intent on fighting. However, the youth worker was important enough in their lives that they sought her advice first.
Girls may be encouraged to fight by peers. Several girls described the way that male peers encourage physical fighting between females. In one afterschool program, the girls characterized the situation as boys trying to “start drama between girls” and intentionally pitting girls against each other. One 12 year-old from Dorchester said that boys go back and forth to girls involved in a conflict to encourage each girl to confront the other. A group of middle-school girls in East Boston said that students start the drama because they enjoy seeing people get into fights. With such overwhelming reinforcement from peers, for many girls, physical fighting seems like the best or only option for gaining respect.
In addition to peer pressure, many girls’ family members also encourage fighting. A youth worker related comments from girls such as,
or “my mom says I have to stand up for myself.” Many of the girls’ families teach that fighting is the honorable way to deal with a conflict. One girl spoke about fighting alongside her mother against three other adult women. When parents, siblings, and other family members are encouraging and role modeling physical fighting, it is difficult for girls to see other options.
Girls have social incentives to fight. A 12 year-old girl from the South End explained,
This idea was widespread among the other girls. “I feel safe cause I know I can protect myself no matter what. I’m not scared if anyone has a gun or a knife or anything like that,” said a 13 year-old girl living in East Boston. The girl suggested that it is important for others to see her as dominant and powerful. One girl explained that, most of the time, the benefits of fighting outweigh the consequences.
Girls are also exposed to other peers fighting, inside and outside of school. Many fights take place in parks or parking lots away from the schools that students attend. The girls interviewed expressed that student fighting, drinking alcohol, and using drugs is common in their neighborhoods. One girl said:
Another said that the park near her house is a common arena for fights and a hang-out for people drinking. Girls in East Boston said that fights frequently happen at the local McDonald’s where students eat and hang out after school.
While physical fighting between girls has captured the attention of the media and community leaders, there is a more subtle aspect to girls’ aggression. Many of the girls interviewed generally did not engage in physical fights, yet nearly all acknowledged that they threaten others, often aggressively. Some girls claimed that they frequently threaten male peers with physical harm. “I threaten people all the time,” said a 12-yearold from Roxbury. She also implied that negative adult role modeling influences girls, stating that she doesn’t like it when her teachers or parents threaten her. Many girls echoed that people in positions of power, such as teachers and youth workers, threaten young people.
Relational aggression and fighting among girls is enabled by electronic communications. Most of the girls spend a considerable amount of time online. When asked how often they go online to IM or chat with friends, almost three quarters responded “several times a week” or “every day.” A 12 year-old girl from Roxbury explained arguing is common when groups of friends talk to each other online in chat rooms. A Somerville youth worker described threats posted online by 14 year-old girls. “I’m at the mall; if you’re too scared, don’t come” is an “away message” that a girl posted to intimidate a female peer.
stated a volunteer youth worker from the South End.
Girls stated that they are aware of the sanctions that could result from aggressive behavior, yet acknowledge that these sanctions will often not prevent violence. The girls interviewed listed numerous things that schools and people in positions of authority do in response to aggressive behavior, including frequently giving detention, suspending students, and physically separating students. One girl from the South End explained that “At my school teachers give out detention really easily.” Despite the knowledge that students are frequently receiving detention, she explained that a lot of the students still fight. These typical sanctions are not enough in terms of preventing bullying and physical fighting among students. A youth worker from Jamaica Plain explained that “Often times either because the adults are frustrated or they don’t know how to deal with it [violence among youths], their quick response is ‘Okay, you were in a fight; we’re going to suspend you. We expect you to change.’ But they’re not addressing the root of the cause.” Youths need forums to examine the paradigm of aggression, in addition to space to deescalate or resolve conflicts in more peaceful ways.
“You can’t trust girls. I don’t have friends who are girls because they run their mouths,”
The distrust among girls often leads to physical fights. Just under half of the girls interviewed had been in a physical fight in the past year, mostly with other girls or women. Nearly all had seen other girls physically fighting. A South End youth worker pointed to casual attitudes about fighting and an inability to articulate the reasons for fighting. They “start fights over nothing and then be wanting to beat each other up over it. And if you ask them why they are doing it, it’s just like, ‘Oh, because’.” Another youth worker shared that girls typically believe that the other person deserves to be beaten up. Recently four girls divulged to her that they were going to fight. “One of the girls in that group had heard that her boyfriend was fooling around with another girl and they were gonna fight that other girl,” she stated. Outwardly, the girls appeared intent on fighting. However, the youth worker was important enough in their lives that they sought her advice first.
Girls may be encouraged to fight by peers. Several girls described the way that male peers encourage physical fighting between females. In one afterschool program, the girls characterized the situation as boys trying to “start drama between girls” and intentionally pitting girls against each other. One 12 year-old from Dorchester said that boys go back and forth to girls involved in a conflict to encourage each girl to confront the other. A group of middle-school girls in East Boston said that students start the drama because they enjoy seeing people get into fights. With such overwhelming reinforcement from peers, for many girls, physical fighting seems like the best or only option for gaining respect.
In addition to peer pressure, many girls’ family members also encourage fighting. A youth worker related comments from girls such as,
“my mom says that if somebody hits me,
I have to hit them back”
Girls have social incentives to fight. A 12 year-old girl from the South End explained,
“If you fought a girl and you beat her up, that’s really good for you. No one would mess with you after that. It proves to people that you can protect yourself.”
Girls are also exposed to other peers fighting, inside and outside of school. Many fights take place in parks or parking lots away from the schools that students attend. The girls interviewed expressed that student fighting, drinking alcohol, and using drugs is common in their neighborhoods. One girl said:
“A lot of people say, ‘Let’s fight after school,’
and then they will go somewhere else.”
While physical fighting between girls has captured the attention of the media and community leaders, there is a more subtle aspect to girls’ aggression. Many of the girls interviewed generally did not engage in physical fights, yet nearly all acknowledged that they threaten others, often aggressively. Some girls claimed that they frequently threaten male peers with physical harm. “I threaten people all the time,” said a 12-yearold from Roxbury. She also implied that negative adult role modeling influences girls, stating that she doesn’t like it when her teachers or parents threaten her. Many girls echoed that people in positions of power, such as teachers and youth workers, threaten young people.
Relational aggression and fighting among girls is enabled by electronic communications. Most of the girls spend a considerable amount of time online. When asked how often they go online to IM or chat with friends, almost three quarters responded “several times a week” or “every day.” A 12 year-old girl from Roxbury explained arguing is common when groups of friends talk to each other online in chat rooms. A Somerville youth worker described threats posted online by 14 year-old girls. “I’m at the mall; if you’re too scared, don’t come” is an “away message” that a girl posted to intimidate a female peer.
“Sometimes they will message each other really mean stuff, and the girls will keep it going,
rather than just signing off or blocking that person,”
Girls stated that they are aware of the sanctions that could result from aggressive behavior, yet acknowledge that these sanctions will often not prevent violence. The girls interviewed listed numerous things that schools and people in positions of authority do in response to aggressive behavior, including frequently giving detention, suspending students, and physically separating students. One girl from the South End explained that “At my school teachers give out detention really easily.” Despite the knowledge that students are frequently receiving detention, she explained that a lot of the students still fight. These typical sanctions are not enough in terms of preventing bullying and physical fighting among students. A youth worker from Jamaica Plain explained that “Often times either because the adults are frustrated or they don’t know how to deal with it [violence among youths], their quick response is ‘Okay, you were in a fight; we’re going to suspend you. We expect you to change.’ But they’re not addressing the root of the cause.” Youths need forums to examine the paradigm of aggression, in addition to space to deescalate or resolve conflicts in more peaceful ways.
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