Aggressive girls are becoming the norm in schools and in the outside world. Both boys and girls are equally capable of aggression. However, boys come off as more physically aggressive. Still, the impulse to hurt another person is not natural for either gender.
Very young children are naturally aggressive because of underdeveloped communication skills. They hit, bite and throw tantrums out of frustration.
Nonetheless, once verbal communication is developed, girls are more conditioned than boys to be social. Mostly, aggressive girls take out their combative nature through spreading rumors that damage reputations. They use manipulative tactics to hurt others psychologically. These methods include:
• Exclude peers socially or totally ostracize them,
• Break the confidence of a peer,
• Often, a threat is made to make a new friend or,
• Girls use pressure to inhibit other girls to join their group.
Girls have a need to maintain social status. Their behavior is not always transparent, therefore, they don’t know when a particular behavior crosses the line. They have a tendency to form a mean joke or bully without the realization of the affect it causes.
Physical Fighting
Today, according to a report from the National Women’s Law Center, girls are rapidly joining the juvenile justice system. Studies indicate these aggressive girls grow up experiencing violence.
A girl’s fight is a sudden reaction to frustration. It starts as an argument and escalates into a physical fight. Also, they are more likely to fight inside. In addition, they are less likely to use a weapon. Simply, the fight is emotionally charged and unplanned. Common areas are locker rooms or bathrooms. These locations are not likely to get the attention of adults.
Fights between girls involve biting, hair pulling, scratching and screaming at each other. In addition they initiate help from their friends once it starts and it easily turns into an all out brawl.
Environment
A child’s environment is controllable by parents and teachers through modeling healthy behaviors. Female students display aggression because of a lack of coping skills and peer pressure.
Understanding how and why girls start fights in school is crucial. Knowledge and awareness is how to spot a protential fight before it escalates.