Social bullying includes aggressive behaviors such as:

• exclusion
• malicious gossip
• rumor spreading
• taunting
• name calling
• alliance building
• covert physical aggression
• cyberbullying

Why this Worries Us

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

• 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 all manage to survive
• That's just how girls are
• Only girls do it

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