Where have all the school girls gone? Violent girls in the school yard

Self–other representations and relational and overt aggression in adolescent girls and boys*

“…Overall, this pattern of ®ndings paints a complex picture of aggressive behavior in high-risk girls: these girls are heavily engaged in controlling and manipulating their social networks, and at the same time, are quite ready to lash out physically toward others. Other researchers (Artz, 1998;Campbell, 1984;Chesney-Lind & Sheldon, 1992) using a variety of methods to understand the lives of aggressive and violent girls have provided similar descriptions. For example, Artz (1998) describes the social relationships of violent girls as focused on issues of power and dominance designed to secure their position within a tenuous social milieu.…”

“…Other researchers (Artz, 1998;Campbell, 1984;Chesney-Lind & Sheldon, 1992) using a variety of methods to understand the lives of aggressive and violent girls have provided similar descriptions. For example, Artz (1998) describes the social relationships of violent girls as focused on issues of power and dominance designed to secure their position within a tenuous social milieu. She argues that the behavior of aggressive girls can be understood in terms of their experiences of oppression and sexual objecti®cation that have dominated their family, peer, and romantic relationships.…”

“…This point is clearly illustrated by interview material collected by Artz (1998). She notes that, among aggressive girls, violence is not a random act but rather designed to put other girls who present a threat toward the aggressor in their place.…”

“…During the past decade, there has been a growing recognition that aggression can be a signi®cant issue for girls (Artz, 1998;Hoyt & Scherer, 1998). Although boys continue to outnumber girls as perpetrators of seriously violent crimes including homicide, recent statistics point to disproportionate increases in other violent crimes committed by girls.…”

Aggressive and Antisocial Girls: Research Update and Challenges

“…These results suggest that very high levels of relational aggression in girls may be a marker of other forms of serious aggressive behavior-that is, relational aggression may form the interpersonal context in which acts of severe physical aggression are perpetrated by girls. Qualitative researchers (Artz, 1998b;Campbell, 1984;Chesney-Lind & Sheldon, 1998) describe the social relationships of violent girls as focused on issues of power and dominance designed to secure their position within a tenuous social milieu. These girls are often highly controlling and manipulating of their social networks (i.e., relationally aggressive), and once provoked they can respond with acts of physical aggression and violent retaliation.…”