Mean Girls

Society has a name for it now: mean girls. you. Upon a friend's recommendation, I read this book in order to prepare myself for my daughter's middle school years. And, quite honestly, to receive a greater understanding of female aggression in general. Here is a glimpse: "That girl bullies are often likely to be the most socially skilled in a group complicates matters further. Like the popular girls profiled by researchers, these girls are mature and worldly. Less often discussed, however, is their intensely charismatic, even seductive aura. Girls like these have almost gravitational pulls on their victims. The friendship is mesmerizing, and often the victim is gripped by dueling desires to be consumed and released by her friend. The victim may rationally understand the relationship’s problem, nod in agreement at her parents’ entreaties to pull away, and then find herself inexplicably drawn to a bully’s side. About a close friend who demeaned her and forced everyone she knew to ignore her, Chastity said, 'She’s the kind of person that whenever you’d meet her, you’d love her to death. She’s the sweetest person. She’d hide her attitude so everybody loved her'.” Whether you desire to learn more about female aggression, on behalf of the young girls in your life or possibly your own friendships, "Odd Girl Out" opens the dialogue and provides knowledge and understanding to female bullying.

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