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April 15, 2006 2:48 AM Subscribe
Little girls gone bad... Guess who's catching up to boys when it comes to punching, kicking and biting?
Well, if it's happening in Toronto then the end times are upon us.
posted by Joeforking at 4:40 AM on April 15, 2006
posted by Joeforking at 4:40 AM on April 15, 2006
This article really reads like a press release for Toronto's Girls Connection. I'm sure they do good work and all, but how is any of this news?
posted by maryh at 4:55 AM on April 15, 2006
posted by maryh at 4:55 AM on April 15, 2006
The Will Ferrell memorial fund actively supports the cause.
posted by srboisvert at 5:01 AM on April 15, 2006
posted by srboisvert at 5:01 AM on April 15, 2006
Girls have always been bullies; it was just more socially normative for them to use relational aggression in post WWII America. Maybe now more boys will get off on making others feel fat.
P.S. - Studies have shown that the scars from relational aggression last longer than the (emotional) scars from physical bullying. Maybe this "punching, kicking and biting" is a good thing?
posted by Eideteker at 6:25 AM on April 15, 2006
P.S. - Studies have shown that the scars from relational aggression last longer than the (emotional) scars from physical bullying. Maybe this "punching, kicking and biting" is a good thing?
posted by Eideteker at 6:25 AM on April 15, 2006
From Eidetaker's link:
Relational aggression is a form of aggression where the group is used as a weapon to assault others and others' relationships. It uses lies, secrets, betrayals and a host of other two-faced tactics to destroy or damage the relationships and social standing of others in the group. Also known (now in 2006) as covert bullying, social aggression, female bullying, or family bullying it is a cruel, cunning, and covert form of aggression. It is much less well known than well-known forms of physical aggression and therefore much more difficult to detect.
Yeah, as a woman who's been on the receiving end of this kind of terrorism once or twice (and it's not so much about making you feel fat as it is covertly trying to poison all of your shared associations that are just casual enough that these mutual contacts might believe outright lies told about you, malicious gossip, etc.): I'd much rather get punched in the face.
posted by availablelight at 6:45 AM on April 15, 2006
Relational aggression is a form of aggression where the group is used as a weapon to assault others and others' relationships. It uses lies, secrets, betrayals and a host of other two-faced tactics to destroy or damage the relationships and social standing of others in the group. Also known (now in 2006) as covert bullying, social aggression, female bullying, or family bullying it is a cruel, cunning, and covert form of aggression. It is much less well known than well-known forms of physical aggression and therefore much more difficult to detect.
Yeah, as a woman who's been on the receiving end of this kind of terrorism once or twice (and it's not so much about making you feel fat as it is covertly trying to poison all of your shared associations that are just casual enough that these mutual contacts might believe outright lies told about you, malicious gossip, etc.): I'd much rather get punched in the face.
posted by availablelight at 6:45 AM on April 15, 2006
If a reporter says it's a disturbing trend because she knows some people, it's definitely true and it's definitely time to panic.
posted by Mayor Curley at 6:50 AM on April 15, 2006
posted by Mayor Curley at 6:50 AM on April 15, 2006
I'm with availablelight. A few years ago I was the subject of a bizzare smear campaign within the mother's group I led. It was bewildering and devastating. 3 women decided they didn't like me and used all of their latent "Mean Girls" tactics to try and poison the whole club against me. If they'd simply kicked me in the shins under the table during a meeting I would have known how to react. Instead they did this passive-agressive under the radar thing that was hard to even isolate, let alone stop.
posted by Biblio at 6:52 AM on April 15, 2006
posted by Biblio at 6:52 AM on April 15, 2006
I'll chime in with availablelight and biblio -- I, too, have been (as an adult) subject to an organized "mean girls" style campaign of gossip, lies, and innuendo by two women who felt (we're guessing here) "threatened" by my competence in running a project for a local nonprofit. Its an experience that I never had as a child or teen, and a special kind of hell when suddenly you feel that everyone you interact with is regarding you as some sort of immoral baby-eater.
As a pre-teen I was beaten up a couple of times by other girls -- it was embarrassing and painful, but I lived through it. On the other hand, this sort of emotional/social aggression that typically males don't indulge in is, I can honestly say, life changing (and not in a good way).
Kids like the girl in the article are clearly disturbed, and its great that we can find a way to help them before they become more violent and destructive. What worries me more, however, is that nonaggressive "mean girls" social engineering behavior is not subject to the same type of "program" approach when it can be equally - or more - destructive.
posted by anastasiav at 7:02 AM on April 15, 2006
As a pre-teen I was beaten up a couple of times by other girls -- it was embarrassing and painful, but I lived through it. On the other hand, this sort of emotional/social aggression that typically males don't indulge in is, I can honestly say, life changing (and not in a good way).
Kids like the girl in the article are clearly disturbed, and its great that we can find a way to help them before they become more violent and destructive. What worries me more, however, is that nonaggressive "mean girls" social engineering behavior is not subject to the same type of "program" approach when it can be equally - or more - destructive.
posted by anastasiav at 7:02 AM on April 15, 2006
Blubber's good, but Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye is an excellent illustration of how nasty little girls can be, and it's for grown-ups.
posted by scratch at 7:20 AM on April 15, 2006
posted by scratch at 7:20 AM on April 15, 2006
"Little girls gone bad... Guess who's catching up to boys when it comes to punching, kicking and biting?"
Gee, given the first phrase that question is hard to answer, but I'll hazard a guess: origami lightningbugs?
posted by davy at 7:40 AM on April 15, 2006
Gee, given the first phrase that question is hard to answer, but I'll hazard a guess: origami lightningbugs?
posted by davy at 7:40 AM on April 15, 2006
I was the (female) class bully in first grade. I was ferocious.
posted by honeydew at 7:52 AM on April 15, 2006
posted by honeydew at 7:52 AM on April 15, 2006
I just have this thing inside me that wants to eat and conquer. Maybe it's egotistical, but I have it in me. I don't want to be a tycoon. I just want to conquer people and their souls.
posted by foot at 7:58 AM on April 15, 2006
posted by foot at 7:58 AM on April 15, 2006
how is any of this news?
because news is what we do at metafilter. all news. all the time.
that said, anyone who has driven a car in the last 5 years can tell you about the aggressiveness of young girls. if they're not kicking ass at 9, they're terrorizing the highways by 17.
posted by quonsar at 8:07 AM on April 15, 2006
because news is what we do at metafilter. all news. all the time.
that said, anyone who has driven a car in the last 5 years can tell you about the aggressiveness of young girls. if they're not kicking ass at 9, they're terrorizing the highways by 17.
posted by quonsar at 8:07 AM on April 15, 2006
Hell, I've had this happen to me with an all male cast of characters. It was fucking bewildering. Direct confrontation "solved" it, but the memories still hurt sometimes.
I'd much rather have gotten into fist fight.
posted by Richard Daly at 8:11 AM on April 15, 2006
I'd much rather have gotten into fist fight.
posted by Richard Daly at 8:11 AM on April 15, 2006
if they're not kicking ass at 9, they're terrorizing the highways by 17.
Which is why girls no longer have an insurance advantage. I was recently told by an agent that they're now more likely ot be involved in accidents than young boys.
On relational aggression: I've seen a lot of it, sometimes directed at me. I once lost a job through it. It's not missing from male interactions by any stretch of teh imagination -- corporate politics, business politics, are full of it. It just has different foci. In the Company of Men is a great example of the tactics in action. Hell, we all know people who've been involved in abusive relationships -- it's teh same thing, just writ a little smaller.
I suppose physical aggression is more "honest", but the fist-poundign I took to the face in 9th grade marked me a lot more deeply than losing that job when I was 32. OTOH, the "relational aggression" manouver that I was targeted with (by a bunch of the other boys in my classroom) in 4th grade left deeper marks than either.
I guess, ultimately, I'm not sure they're all that separable.
posted by lodurr at 8:53 AM on April 15, 2006
Which is why girls no longer have an insurance advantage. I was recently told by an agent that they're now more likely ot be involved in accidents than young boys.
On relational aggression: I've seen a lot of it, sometimes directed at me. I once lost a job through it. It's not missing from male interactions by any stretch of teh imagination -- corporate politics, business politics, are full of it. It just has different foci. In the Company of Men is a great example of the tactics in action. Hell, we all know people who've been involved in abusive relationships -- it's teh same thing, just writ a little smaller.
I suppose physical aggression is more "honest", but the fist-poundign I took to the face in 9th grade marked me a lot more deeply than losing that job when I was 32. OTOH, the "relational aggression" manouver that I was targeted with (by a bunch of the other boys in my classroom) in 4th grade left deeper marks than either.
I guess, ultimately, I'm not sure they're all that separable.
posted by lodurr at 8:53 AM on April 15, 2006
Guess who's catching up to boys when it comes to punching, kicking and biting?
Monkeys? Is it monkeys? I know it's monkeys.
posted by thirteenkiller at 8:58 AM on April 15, 2006
Monkeys? Is it monkeys? I know it's monkeys.
posted by thirteenkiller at 8:58 AM on April 15, 2006
Honeydew, what are you doing after class next Friday? Let's go chase down some nerds. I'll hold them down while you punch them, and then you can nod in agreement as I tell them they'll never amount to anything.
posted by Eideteker at 9:34 AM on April 15, 2006
posted by Eideteker at 9:34 AM on April 15, 2006
It uses lies, secrets, betrayals and a host of other two-faced tactics to destroy or damage the relationships and social standing of others in the group.
That actually sounds like my office work environment. I'd prefer a punch in the face, mostly.
posted by psmealey at 10:26 AM on April 15, 2006
That actually sounds like my office work environment. I'd prefer a punch in the face, mostly.
posted by psmealey at 10:26 AM on April 15, 2006
"Girls have always been bullies"
Don't disagree but from the article it sounds more like they are trying to treat girls who have junior woodchuck psychopathy:
"They kick, bite and punch on a daily basis. They injure household pets and beat up siblings. They lie, steal, cheat and bully. At school they are constantly fighting and verbally challenging teachers and other authority figures. Some set fires, smash windows and furniture."
posted by squeak at 11:25 AM on April 15, 2006
Don't disagree but from the article it sounds more like they are trying to treat girls who have junior woodchuck psychopathy:
"They kick, bite and punch on a daily basis. They injure household pets and beat up siblings. They lie, steal, cheat and bully. At school they are constantly fighting and verbally challenging teachers and other authority figures. Some set fires, smash windows and furniture."
posted by squeak at 11:25 AM on April 15, 2006
At school they are constantly fighting and verbally challenging teachers and other authority figures. Some set fires, smash windows and furniture.
What's wrong with that? Burn, baby burn!
posted by delmoi at 1:36 PM on April 15, 2006
What's wrong with that? Burn, baby burn!
posted by delmoi at 1:36 PM on April 15, 2006
Newsflash: Lacking a Y chromosome does not make one a perfect, godlike being. Film at 11.
posted by spazzm at 2:32 PM on April 15, 2006
posted by spazzm at 2:32 PM on April 15, 2006
From Richmond.com: Kid Vicious, interview with Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls.
posted by emelenjr at 8:43 AM on April 16, 2006
posted by emelenjr at 8:43 AM on April 16, 2006
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Groundbreaking reseach.
posted by three blind mice at 3:26 AM on April 15, 2006