When it comes to bullying, girls spread cruel rumours and boys fight it out behind the bike shed, right?
New research suggests that we are gender stereotyping and bullying is more complex than this.
Researcher Katrina Newey, a developmental psychologist and PhD candidate at the University of Western Sydney, found that girls are guilty of social bullying during late primary school and early high school, but by year 10, the boys are using psychological aggression to taunt their victims.
A U.S study also found that boys are more likely to be perpetrators of cyber-bullying, which goes against the grain of what most parents assume.
“I always worry about my daughter online and monitor her more than my son – I thought the girls were the nasty ones on social media. I will definitely look out for my son now.” Says Nicole, mum of a 10 and 12 year old.
Jennifer Germon, a gender studies specialist at the University of Sydney told the Sydney Morning Herald:
"It seems very clear to me that, when boys bully, social exclusion, gossiping and name-calling are crucial to their arsenal. It's really a misnomer to just attribute the language-based forms of bullying to girls."
Dr Germon is concerned that if we keep assuming that girls use words and boys use fists to exclude and harass other kids, we will never manage bullying in our schools and online.
"Those old arguments just don't hold," she says. "They're counterproductive and they get in the way of effective interventions."
If you are worried your child is a victim of cyber-bullying, cybersmart is a great resource for kids and parents.
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