On Easter weekend, the internet was buzzing over two different viral videos showing women and girls committing violence toward other women and girls. These videos brought to mind two staggering facts:
1. “A girl is bullied every seven minutes at school, either in the playground, classroom or bathroom, by another member of the female population.”
2. “When girl bullying occurs: 85 percent of the time no intervention, 11 percent peer intervention and 4 percent teacher intervention.”
Both facts can be found at www.stop-bullies.com
Rolling out sat down with Yasmin Shiraz, author of Retaliation: A Novel and The Blueprint for My Girls series. Shiraz is also an award- winning filmmaker in addition to being an advocate for Anti-Bullying and Stop the Violence. Her first documentary on girl violence was titled “Can She Be Saved?” which won a 2009 Indie Award for Merit from the Indie Fest. Her latest film is called They Call Me Dae and is the prequel to the upcoming feature film, Retaliation, based on her book of the same name. –martin pratt
Why are girls jumping girls?
In my research with teen girls throughout the U.S., I’ve discovered key factors that are present when girls are fighting and jumping other girls. Key factors such as:
Girls who are fighting often suffer from low self-esteem. They dislike themselves and, therefore, are willing to hurt another girl. By causing someone else pain, it allows them to release their own.
Girls who participate in jumping feel that they have to participate. If a best friend plans to fight a girl, it is expected for her close friends to join in. It is an act of loyalty.
Stress leads to girls jumping other girls. Many teens suffer when their parents are out of work, when the family has to relocate and if there is dysfunction in the home. For a girl who is feeling stressed but doesn’t have an outlet to discuss these issues, her frustration can lead her to fight as a form of release.
Next Week: 3 steps parents can take to stop girls-fighting-girls violence
Take a look at the trailer for Yasmin Shiraz’s They Call Me Dae:
