Raising their voices: Girls' bullying, friendships and disputes

Bullying amongst girls of any age is more covert and complex than amongst boys, yet it is at least as painful to the victim. Although girls tend to use less physical means of bullying, the effects can be more long lasting and damaging.

However there would appear to be an increase in overt aggression even amongst young girls in recent years. The findings of a 7-year study of girls' difficult friendships, conflicts and bullying, was presented by Educational Psychologist Val Besag at a workshop at the annual conference of the British Psychological Society's Division of Educational and Child Psychology in Harrogate, on Thursday 9 January 2003.

The workshop covered recent international work in the field whilst a range of interventions and initiatives found to be effective in addressing these issues will also be discussed.

"Most information we have about bullying concerns boys. It is only in recent years that we have come to recognise the severity and extent of bullying among girls. It would appear that there are significant differences between the genders in their patterns of bullying behaviour" Val Besag said.

Ref: PR370