Girl Wars: 12 Strategies That Will End Female Bullying
Cheryl Dellasega, PhD & Charisse Nixon, PhD
Mary Pipher's bestselling
Reviving Ophelia triggered widespread
interest in the culture of preteen and teenage girls and the seeming epidemic of
relational aggression (bullying) among them. Gossip, teasing, forming cliques,
and other cruel behaviors are the basis of this bullying, which harms both
victim and aggressor. Until now, no one has been able to offer practical and
effective solutions that stop girls from hurting each other with words and
actions. But in
Girl Wars, two experts explain not only how to prevent
such behavior but also how to intervene should it happen, as well as overcome
the culture that breeds it.
Illustrated by compelling true stories from mothers and girls, the authors
offer effective, easy-to-implement strategies that range from preventive to
prescriptive, such as how to
- Adopt a "help, don't hurt" strategy
- Provide positive role models
- Teach communication skills online and off
- Stress assertiveness, not aggressiveness
- Learn conflict resolution skills
- Identify alternatives to bullying behavior
- With their combined experience in offering and evaluating programs that
combat bullying, the authors show that girls not only want to help rather than
hurt each other, they can do so with guidance from concerned adults.
