Girls and Alternative Girls and Alternative AggressionAggression

Jessica Alferio Clark

What is Bullying?What is Bullying?“…a student is being bullied or

victimized when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other students.” (Dan Olweus, 1993)

“…a conscious, willful, and deliberate hostile activity intended to harm, induce fear through the threat of further aggression, and create terror.” (Barbara Coloroso, 2008)

Forms of Bullying Forms of Bullying PhysicalVerbalEmotional/ExclusionElectronic

What is Alternative What is Alternative Aggression?Aggression?Alternative aggression combines

relational aggression, indirect aggression, and social aggression.

It is an alternative to physical aggression, or traditional bullying, and it is more covert than physical aggression.

Alternative aggression is most prevalent during the middle school years.

Relational AggressionRelational AggressionRelational aggression is when the

relationship of two (or more girls) is used as a weapon or a leveling tool for one girl to get what she wants.

Barbara Coloroso (2008) defines relational aggression as a tool “to be used to alienate and reject a peer or to purposefully ruin friendships. It can involve subtle gestures such as aggressive stares, rolling of eyes, frowns, sneers, snickers, and hostile body language.”

Social AggressionSocial AggressionSocial aggression is related to relational

aggression. The goal of social aggression is to damage a member of a group’s self-esteem or status.

Social aggression includes excluding, cyberbullying, and sexting.◦ In some states, sexting is a criminal offense,

and students may be charged with distributing pornography.

◦Also in some states, cyberbullyng is a criminal offense, and students as well as schools may be held accountable for these crimes.

Indirect Aggression Indirect Aggression Indirect aggression is a covert act

in which a girl avoids confronting her target directly.

It can include gossiping about someone, passing notes, and leaving threats in someone’s locker.

Similarities Between Traditional Similarities Between Traditional Bullying and Alternative Bullying and Alternative AggressionAggressionBoth contain elements of an

imbalance of power. One person (or group of people) holds power over another.

Both hit their peaks in middle school (ages 10 – 14).

Both are seen as a bigger, more frequent problem by the students than by the teachers.

Differences Between Traditional Differences Between Traditional Bullying and Alternative Bullying and Alternative AggressionAggressionAlternative aggression most often

occurs when two girls are friends, not enemies.

Alternative aggression is covert where traditional bullying can be seen out in the open.

Alternative aggression is often looked

as “what girls do,” and not an actual problem because there is little physical violence.

Perceptions of a AggressorPerceptions of a AggressorSince girls usually bully their own

friends, the behavior goes on unnoticed.

The aggressor is often a secure, charismatic, and intelligent girl who can intimidate her friends simply by looking at them.

Forms of VictimizationForms of VictimizationVictimization can be verbal, relational,

and even physical.Today, e-mails, text messages, and

messages posted on social networking sites are common forms of victimization.

The victim is not necessarily a weakling; she’s just weaker than her aggressor.◦An example of this is when the girls who

head two different cliques clash.

Warning SignsWarning Signs Not all girls who are subjected to alternative aggressions

will exhibit these signs, nor not all girls who exhibit these signs are victims of alternative aggressions.

School and social events with friends are a source of dread and anxiety.

A drop in grades has occurred and extra-curricular act ivies no longer hold her interest.

A girl becomes upset after receiving a phone call, text message, or e-mail.

She may believe that ending her life may be the only way to end the harassment.

Damage CausedDamage CausedAlternative aggression inflicts

emotional and psychological harm.

If a girl is being harassed at school by her peers, her brain and body are no longer concerned with learning, but surviving the school day. She may not be absorbing any educational material.

A girl’s self-esteem may be compromised because of the aggression. As a result, the relationships she forms as an adult may not be positive ones.

A girl may become paranoid and not trust herself along with those around her.

The aggressor is also at risk for developing social and emotional problems. Because they are aggressors, they may not be well liked by others, and this can damage self-esteem.

InterventionsInterventions

If a girl seeks help and advice, she has decided that it is worth any future abuse she may endure at the hands of her aggressors.

Interventions should focus on helping the victim heal and maintain her self-esteem.

Interventions should focus on helping the victim heal and maintain her self-esteem. Interventions should also include an exercise where a girl can practice confronting her aggressors.

If, after completing other intervention exercises, she is comfortable in doing so, the victim should express her feelings to her aggressor.

Getting HelpGetting HelpGirls should be encouraged to tell

their parents about what is happening in their life.

Working with the school’s guidance counselors or other counseling professional may help a girl deal with her anger and hurt and help her restore her self-esteem.

Parents should be cautious when approaching the parents of the other girls involved in the aggression.

Parents should contact school

authorities to let them know what is going on with their daughter if their daughter hasn’t notified the school. If the school has been notified, then parents should follow-up with the proper school authorities.

What Educators Can DoWhat Educators Can DoBe familiar with your school’s

Anti-Bullying Policy◦Is the faculty and staff familiar with

it?◦Are the students familiar with it?

Create a positive environment◦Display anti-bullying symbols◦Have students create and sign an

anti-bullying pledge

What Educators Can DoWhat Educators Can DoFocus on the positives – not the

negatives◦Reward random acts of kindness

Encourage bystanders and witnesses as well as victims to report bullying and aggression, even if it is through an anonymous reporting box.

Final ThoughtsFinal ThoughtsOn January 14, 2010, Phoebe Prince was

found hanging from a stairwell in her family home by her younger sister. Her story is becoming all too familiar today in a world when girls are socialized to be nice and to conform to traditional gender roles, yet see how meanness and petty behavior can have its rewards through movies and television. Girls are constantly surrounded by mixed signals when it comes to their behavior and the classroom is no escape from these signals. Gone are the days where a teacher can open a book and teach. Teachers today are finding themselves responsible for the well-being of their students in what may be life or death situations and they need to be prepared for this.

Works CitedWorks CitedColoroso, B. (2008). The bully, the bullied, and

the bystander: From preschool to high school – how parents and teachers can help break the cycle of violence. (Updated ed.). New York, NY: Collins Living.

Olweus, D. (1993). Bullying at school. Oxford: Blackford Publishing.