Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Mean Girls


We’ve had a little rash of mean-girl incidents around here. Several young women I know are facing mean girl situations -more or less on a continuing basis, so I’ve been trying to figure out how to help them.

Telling them why these girls are mean doesn’t fix the situation. It’s obvious that mean girls choose their actions as a direct result of their self-esteem issues. But even giving their victims this information doesn’t help the immediate problem.

I clearly remember spending most of my middle school and early high school years doing everything possible to just fly under the MG radar. I lived with the uncomfortable knowledge that if I stood out enough to be noticed, I would be completely picked apart. I felt like a mouse in a maze being watched by cats, waiting to pounce if I took a wrong turn.

I even knew WHY some of them acted the way they did. It was clear even to my 14 year old self that they were bitter and looking for attention. They were trying to make themselves look bigger by squashing someone else.

I don’t think we can really change the mean-girls. Which is sad, but have you ever known one who really wanted to be different? They like the power associated with it, even though it means they are generally without true friends.

So, back to looking for ways to help my young friends avoid being pounced on. I think it keys on two things:

First, recognizing the mean girls; the ones who act like they’re your best friends. They use phrases like:

“I was just trying to help you.”

“I’m so sorry this hurt you.”

“Someone else said this about you, but I told them to stop.”

Seriously, is there ANYTHING productive or positive in “letting you know” other than to just be hurtful and to feel like they somehow have the upper hand? Most of the time, help, pity, or righteous indignation would not be necessary if the mean girl hadn’t opened her big mouth in the first place. The only motive for this conversation is to make someone feel bad.

Second, the best defense is a good offense.

When I lived in the mountains there were many areas that had mountain lion sightings. The schools took to training the children about what to do in case they came into contact with one of these cats, which was a real possibility, considering that the school bus stops could sometimes be half a mile or so from the child’s home.

The things they taught were; 1) If you are in a group, you will probably not be bothered. Even so, you should 2) never, ever approach a mountain lion. If one approaches you, 3) do all you can to appear larger. 4) Do not turn and run, and if you’re attacked, fight back.

Mountain Lions/ Mean Girls... Hey, same safety rules!

1) Find real friends and stick with them.

2) It’s better to be alone, than to hang out with the mountain lions.

3) If you’re approached, show self confidence, smile, and be the bigger person. Refuse to engage in gossip or pretty much any actual conversation, other than just pleasantries.

4) If you’re attacked, don’t turn and run. It will make you a bigger target next time. The worst case scenario for a mean girl is to be called out. So be blunt.

If she says something snotty about you like; “Hey, lots of people are saying that you shouldn’t be the tennis team captain, because you really aren’t that good a player, but I told them to stop talking like that.”

You say – “Hey, are you trying to help me or hurt me?” Then wait for the answer. Ask “How would telling me that help?”

If a MG makes a gossipy comment, about someone else, say something like “I wonder how we could help her.” Or “I bet she could use a friend.”

It won’t make her nicer, but it will make her avoid you like the plague. And that’s really all you want anyway. Right?

Other suggestions?

9 comments:

Heather said...

Right. And for them to change. But since you have geniously pointed out, that usually doesn't happen so I won't hold my breath.

I would like to report that at 27 I have all the answers, but unfortunatley I'll be putting your suggestions to good use. Still. Even though I'm a mom, and out of HS. Uggh.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I wish I'd known all that when I was an adolescent. Oi. Brilliant Randi!

goddessdivine said...

I loved that movie; so teeny-boppery.

Yeah, even though I work with teenagers all day I really don't have any suggestions. Some girls are just mean. I think parents should be blamed. Maybe we could start there?

The Wiz said...

I love the phrase from Joe Vs. the Volcano

"I have no response to that." You just say that after someone says something "helpful" or gossipy.

They usually just stare and don't know where to go with that, since their whole conversation was just stopped in its tracks.

Yvonne said...

That was absolutely fabulous!!!! I hope you've taught that at YW Camp.

Caroline C. Bingham said...

Oh, the scars I have from MG's. It's just hard to recognize at age 15, that the "popular" girls really aren't amazing. It's especially hard to just have to sit back and let your own girls learn how to handle the situation on their own. ey-yi-yi. They really are mountain lions...

Tammy and Parker said...

I am going to print out your defense plan and share it with my girls.

I've ran across many a long in the tooth mean girl as well. Sneaky buggers, aren't they.

Anonymous said...

randi:
i love how you compare the mean girls to the mountain lion warnings. hilarious and true and sad. i love your number 4 on your list especially. and people (no matter what age they are) are stupid when they engage in negative gossip with people who know the other people. come on! why don't they see it that if they do say that to you, they are definitely going to say that ABOUT you to others?? guess what my BIGGEST pet peeve is randi. you got it. negative gossip with people who know the people. mean people should go away. i don't want a thing to do with them. when someone tries to engage me in that kind of garbage, i shut it off and usually change the subject or tell them that is mean. they don't usually come back to me. gossip just hurts people. life is so short and valuable. i want to focus my efforts on positives. and i'll talk to the yick person directly if i feel like dealing with them, but i refuse to go around talking about them. i strive to be straight with people, what you see and hear, is what you get, no fakey, no hidden agenda, i am a sweetie and i strive to spread goodness in my wake. that is sweet how you are trying to help those in your sphere of influence better deal with this garbage. you have a good heart. that's why i adore your friendship so much. much love and respect, kathleen

Melissa said...

You know, in our last ward I got to watch mean girls in action - in our Primary. It was heartbreaking. They were 7 years old and horrid to one of the other girls. I know there was some intervention with the teacher, but that just made them tease even more when they thought no one was looking. I think that parents need to recognize these signs in their own kids. I would hate to look at my kids and think "You're one of the mean girls/bullies." But, heaven forbid, if it ever did happen, I hope my eyes would be open enough to recognize it and step in somehow :S