The mean girl motive : establishing power and status within hierarchies of femininity

Abstract

In recent years, public discourse and media representations of girls have presented a dichotomy of racialized and classed versions of girl aggression: the mean girl bully versus the violent gang girl. Arguably, the narratives surrounding the latter image problematize violence as a lower-class, minority issue while the mean girl epidemic is associated with white, middle-class culture. This thesis examines the intersection among structures of class, race and gender in the production of girls' "aggression". Recognizing that adult class structures based on the labour market have little relevance in youth culture, in this project, "class" was largely examined in terms of femininity. Through focus group discussions with 24 girls, aged 8-11, this research found that femininity is a primary source of power for girls and meanness is a tool whereby girls can negotiate their power and status. This research highlights important discrepancies between adult and girls' understandings of girl culture that raise critical questions about our "taken for granted knowledge" of girls' "meanness".