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A national nonprofit organization, the Ophelia Project is headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania and has been creating safe social climates since 1997. It emerged as one community's decision to increase parental and community support for girls; we grew to become one of the nation's leading experts in identifying and addressing relational aggression in schools, the workplace and communities. The Ophelia Project partners with educational, civic and community leaders to assess social conditions and advocate healthy peer relationships. Through community building, professional development and school programming, the Ophelia Project educates and empowers kids and adults across North America. Visit their website www.opheliaproject.org

Girl Scouts of Nassau County began its Critical Issues Initiative during the summer of 2005 focusing on the issue of healthy peer relationships among girls. The reason was simple. Covert aggression between our children is escalating. In a prevailing culture of meanness, girls and adults seem to shrug it off as simply something all girls do. What is it? It's a behavior called relational aggression.

What is Relational Aggression (RA)?

Relational Aggression is behavior that is intended to harm someone by damaging or manipulating his or her relationships with others. Relationally aggressive behaviors include exclusion, malicious gossip and rumor spreading, teasing, name calling, alliance building, covert physical aggression and cyberbullying. (Ophelia Project 2006)

Why this Worries Us

The cost of these attitudes exacts a heavy toll on each of us, especially our children.

. absenteeism from school
. eating disorders
. drug and alcohol abuse
. risky sexual behaviors
. depression
. low self esteem
. self mutilation (cutting and burning)

Commonly Held Beliefs

Often ignored by adults, this kind of abuse can become a form of emotional terrorism for a target. Adults often believe:

. Shunning, gossiping and "dissing" are simply a stage of girlhood that girls will eventually outgrow.

. All girls go through it.

. Somehow girls will manage to survive.

. That's just how girls are.

. Only girls do it.

These "normative beliefs" can be found among professionals, parents, even even among girls themselves.


Transformational Change

Girl Scouts of Nassau County is committed to creating a physically and emotionally safe space for girls. Our approach is multifaceted and offers the following programming:

-A Friendship Program for all girls ages 5 through 17, created by the Ophelia Project.

-Awareness Raising Workshops for boys, girls, parents, schools and communities.

-Volunteer Leadership Training focusing on creating a safe space for girls.