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and girls are more similar than they are different. A lot of girls enjoy playing
computer games, and a lot of boys enjoy more friendship-centered activities.
Researchers have found, however, that as a general group, boys spend more
time with boys in physical activities such as sports and games; whereas girls
tend to spend more of their time socializing with other girls in more
friendship-based activities (for example, talking with other girls) (1, 2, 3). So
it is not surprising that boys and girls tend to bully and be bullied differently.
One of the most consistent research findings is that boys are more likely to
both bully and be bullied than are girls (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). Also, boys and girls
experience different types of bullying behaviors.
can also be indirect whereby the targeted person experiences the aggression
through others (for example, gossiped about, excluded from a social activity).
boys) hurtful information about the targeted child (4). For example, a girl may
tell a group of girls an embarrassing story about another girl. They may create
mean names, gossip, and come up with ways of letting the girl know that she
is rejected from the peer group (for example, saying mean things about her on
social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace, using her email address
to send harassing messages to everyone on her email list, texting her a death
threat). These are called relational bullying because they attack relationships and friendships.
Sexual
Another example of bullying experienced more often by girls than boys is
sexual (for example, touched in private body parts or received sexual messages) (4, 11). Sexual types of bullying may occur at school, in the general
reported being targeted in this way. This form of bullying combined with messages about rejection from friendships can be devastating to a girls sense of
enthusiasm for school and learning, self-esteem, and hopes for the future.
most often done covertly. It may even involve adults who react aggressively in
defence of their children. In addition, parents and school authorities do not
always detect gossiping or other covert bullying behaviors because they are
generally hidden from adults (12, 13). Thus, they may not be disciplined and
caught, which may increase the severity and duration of these behaviours. It
may even occur among friends, making it seem that its just typical peer
conflict. However, when one girl feels powerless in how she is being treated,
then bullying is occurring, and adults need to intervene.
research shows that physical abuse tends to occur more often among boys
than girls at all educational levels (e.g., elementary, high school, college) (13,
15, 16). In addition, male college students tend to bully and be bullied through
physical and verbal forms of bullying (e.g., name-calling) more often than college girls (15).
Also boys may be more accepting of bullying, than are girls (17). That is, boys
may like a girl even if she bullies others and like other boys who bully. Girls
may still befriend boys who bully, but tend to dislike girls who bully. At the
core of these differences are childrens and, indeed, societal beliefs about
acceptable behaviors for boys and girls. Many people may see bullying among
boys as just boys being boys. So, girls may accept this attitude and tolerate
boys bullying. However, girls may be less accepting of girls who bully if it is
seen as overly aggressive.
trating on school work, have trouble making friends with others, lie, steal, run
away from home, avoid school or even consider suicide (1, 3, 13, 18). Children
may not want to tell anyone if they feel they deserve this type of treatment,
caused it, or that telling would make it worse (which the bully may have
threatened). There may also be long-term effects of bullying on bullies
themselves (13). Some children who bully at a young age may continue to use
aggression and control in other relationships as they grow older (13). For
example, boys may start dating earlier than other boys and be aggressive in
years may experience depression over a long term, attempt suicide, or develop
an eating disorder (19).
Again, individual men and women, and boys and girls experience bullying in
this article. It is important to keep in mind, however, that boys may also experience indirect forms of bullying, and girls may experience direct forms. In
addition, children involved in bullying may both be targeted and exert aggression themselves.
For parents, its important to recognize signs in their sons and daughters that
they may be involved in some or many forms of bullying and to address these
experiences as soon as they arise. For example, checking in with children at
the end of the day can include conversation about academic subjects as well as