Skip to content
dove logo

  • Find something for your skin
    • Moisturising
    • Moisturising for Dry Skin
    • Dry Skin Care
  • Find something for your Hair
    • Dry Hair Treatment
    • Damaged Hair Repair
    • Frizzy Hair Products
    • Hair Volume
    • Hair Fall Treatment
    • Anti-Dandruff Treatment
  • Washing and bathing
    Washing and bathing
    • Browse all Washing and bathing
    • Body Wash
    • Beauty Bar
    • Hand Wash
  • Skin care
    Skin care
    • Browse all Skin care
    • Body Lotion
    • Body cream
    • Face wash
    • Browse all Moisturising

      • Moisturiser for dry skin
    • Dry skin care
  • Antiperspirants deodorants
    Antiperspirants deodorants
    • Browse all Antiperspirants deodorants
    • Spray antiperspirant deodorant
    • Roll-on antiperspirant deodorant
    • Stick antiperspirant deodorant
    • Products to help minimise sweating
  • Hair care
    Hair care
    • Browse all The nourishing care your hair deserves
    • Dove shampoos | Find your perfect shampoo match
    • Conditioner
    • Hair Masks and Hair Treatments
    • Dry Hair Treatment
    • Treatments and conditioners for damaged hair
    • Products for frizzy hair
    • Hair products for volume
    • Hair fall treatment
    • Anti-dandruff treatment products
  • Dove collections
    Dove collections
    • Browse all Dove collections
    • Go Fresh
    • Purely Pampering
    • Nourishing Secrets
    • Dove Hair Therapy Range
    • Browse all The Dove Self-Esteem Project
    • Our mission
  • Parent & mentor resources
    Parent & mentor resources
    • Browse all Parent & mentor resources
    • Browse all Family, friends & relationships

      • A secret code for your mother daughter relationship
    • Dealing with teasing and bullying around appearance
    • Respecting & looking after yourself
    • Media & celebrities
    • Building self-esteem
    • Uniquely Me: A tool to help build positive body confidence in your child
    • The Confidence Kit: Build Self-Esteem in Young People
    • Teacher resources
    • Youth leader resources
  • Dove Campaigns
    Dove Campaigns
    • Browse all Dove Campaigns
    • Project #ShowUs
    • Browse all Beauty Portraits

      • Afua Boateng
      • Susannah Temko
      • Bella Huddart
      • Christa
      • Monica Cummings
      • Lily Dean
      • Marlyee Copeland
      • Shakia Stewart
      • Sarah Moore
      • Wendy Helm
      • Sehee Chun
    • Women Get Told
    • #WelcomeToWomanhood with the Dove Self-Esteem Project
    • About Dove
  • Tips & how to
    Tips & how to
    • Browse all Tips & how to
    • Hair care tips
    • Skin care tips and advice
    • Washing and bathing tips and advice
    • Sweating tips

  1. Dove
  2. The Dove Self-Esteem Project
  3. Parent & mentor resources
  4. Dealing with teasing and bullying around appearance

Girl bullies: understanding different types of bullying

5
min read

Age group

  • 8 to 16 years
                
                  
                  
Article date
23/09/2019
Review date
23/09/2019

It’s a sad fact that most young people experience bullying at some stage. But while boys and girls are equally likely to be on the receiving end, for a girl it’s more often hidden to the casual observer. That’s why it’s important for parents to recognise the signs of bullying among girls and be aware of its dangers.

Girl bullies vs boy bullies: the different types of bullying

What are the key differences between the way girls and boys bully or experience bullying?

  • Subtle. With girls, bullying tends to be subtle. It’s more likely to involve social bullying tactics such as ostracism, alienation and rumour spreading than face-to-face verbal bullying
  • Premeditated. Girls are more likely to engage in premeditated bullying, whereas with boys, bullying tends to be more opportunistic
  • Psychological or emotional bullying. With boys, bullying is more likely to be physical. Some boys like the status that comes with getting involved in fights. Girls are more likely to be involved in surreptitious and psychological bullying (such as hurting feelings) rather than physical bullying
  • Boys and girls. Girls may be bullied by both other girls and boys. Boys, in contrast, are more often bullied only by boys

When bullying is physical, adults tend to react quickly. With a girl bully, because the bullying is more likely to be psychological, it can be harder to spot – but it’s just as important to take action.

“With boys there might be aggression, punching. With girls, it’s much more covert. It’s about reputations, freezing individuals out, excluding them from the social group.”

Social bullying tactics: peer exclusion

Psychologist Dr Nancy Etcoff, an expert in the neuroscience of emotion, explains: “With boys there might be aggression, punching. With girls, it’s much more covert. It’s about reputations, freezing individuals out, excluding them from the social group.”

This is extraordinarily undermining – and therefore effective from the bully’s point of view – because in a young person’s world, social relationships matter more than anything. A young girl is wired to connect, so anything that hinders or threatens this is a massive blow.

If your daughter is being squeezed out of her social circle by a bully or bullies, it will overshadow everything else in her life. To you, it may seem like an overreaction, but all your girl wants is to be part of a gang of friends – they’re the centre of her universe and what make her life worth living (she thinks). 

Girls’ bullying focuses on physical appearance

Young people worry greatly about fitting in, so it’s not surprising that girls' bullying often focuses on looks, especially looking ‘different’. One study in the UK found 56% of girls had been picked on because of their weight, body shape, height or hair colour. 

Because girls care so passionately about fitting in and being part of their social group, being bullied about their appearance can hit them especially hard. Research has found that being bullied, even infrequently, raises the risk of depression in girls, whereas with boys the risk is only raised if the bullying is frequent. The research also found that girls who are bullied are more at risk of engaging in substance use.

Another heartbreaking finding from the UK research was that girls who had been bullied then consequently refused to believe nice things said about them – especially about their looks. Being a victim of bullying is devastating for girls' self-esteem.

It’s important as a parent to be aware of what’s going on in your daughter’s life. How are her friendships developing? Is she being kind to others and receiving the kindness she deserves from them? 

Friends or 'frenemies'? Spotting the signs of bullying

‘Frenemies’ is the name given to people who might pretend to be a friend, when in fact they undermine others' self-esteem and positive body confidence – often because they’re lacking in self-confidence themselves. It can take a while to realise that a girl who appears to be a friend is actually working against you and is perhaps, in an indirect way, a bully themselves. 

Talk to your daughter about frenemies. Tell her to look out for 'friends' who:

  • Constantly compare themselves with her, or seem to compete with her all the time
  • Seem to always mix a compliment with a criticism
  • Gossip about her behind her back
  • Cancel plans they’ve made together when a better offer comes along
 
  • Acknowledge your daughter’s feelings

    If she feels undermined by the taunts, gestures or behaviour of other girls (or boys), she’s right – however it might look from the outside. Don’t tell her it’s not happening or that she should ignore it. Listen to her and believe her story

    ,

    If she feels undermined by the taunts, gestures or behaviour of other girls (or boys), she’s right – however it might look from the outside. Don’t tell her it’s not happening or that she should ignore it. Listen to her and believe her story

    ,

    If she feels undermined by the taunts, gestures or behaviour of other girls (or boys), she’s right – however it might look from the outside. Don’t tell her it’s not happening or that she should ignore it. Listen to her and believe her story

    ,

    If she feels undermined by the taunts, gestures or behaviour of other girls (or boys), she’s right – however it might look from the outside. Don’t tell her it’s not happening or that she should ignore it. Listen to her and believe her story

    ,

    If she feels undermined by the taunts, gestures or behaviour of other girls (or boys), she’s right – however it might look from the outside. Don’t tell her it’s not happening or that she should ignore it. Listen to her and believe her story

  • Talk to her about her friendship circle

    If she’s having problems with her friends, see if she can work out how she might improve the situation. It's best to help her resolve things, rather than having to weigh in yourself

    ,

    If she’s having problems with her friends, see if she can work out how she might improve the situation. It's best to help her resolve things, rather than having to weigh in yourself

    ,

    If she’s having problems with her friends, see if she can work out how she might improve the situation. It's best to help her resolve things, rather than having to weigh in yourself

    ,

    If she’s having problems with her friends, see if she can work out how she might improve the situation. It's best to help her resolve things, rather than having to weigh in yourself

    ,

    If she’s having problems with her friends, see if she can work out how she might improve the situation. It's best to help her resolve things, rather than having to weigh in yourself

  • Be prepared to take action

    If all else fails, consider talking to your daughter’s teacher or even approaching the parent of another girl

    ,

    If all else fails, consider talking to your daughter’s teacher or even approaching the parent of another girl

    ,

    If all else fails, consider talking to your daughter’s teacher or even approaching the parent of another girl

    ,

    If all else fails, consider talking to your daughter’s teacher or even approaching the parent of another girl

    ,

    If all else fails, consider talking to your daughter’s teacher or even approaching the parent of another girl

  • Teach her to stand her ground

    Make sure she knows never to ingratiate herself with a bully. Explain that if she goes along with what a bully wants, it’s likely to make the situation worse

    ,

    Make sure she knows never to ingratiate herself with a bully. Explain that if she goes along with what a bully wants, it’s likely to make the situation worse

    ,

    Make sure she knows never to ingratiate herself with a bully. Explain that if she goes along with what a bully wants, it’s likely to make the situation worse

    ,

    Make sure she knows never to ingratiate herself with a bully. Explain that if she goes along with what a bully wants, it’s likely to make the situation worse

    ,

    Make sure she knows never to ingratiate herself with a bully. Explain that if she goes along with what a bully wants, it’s likely to make the situation worse

  • Remind her that bullies are cowards

    Standing up to a bully is usually the best way forward. It takes courage but with success comes a tremendous sense of self-esteem and empowerment

    ,

    Standing up to a bully is usually the best way forward. It takes courage but with success comes a tremendous sense of self-esteem and empowerment

    ,

    Standing up to a bully is usually the best way forward. It takes courage but with success comes a tremendous sense of self-esteem and empowerment

    ,

    Standing up to a bully is usually the best way forward. It takes courage but with success comes a tremendous sense of self-esteem and empowerment

    ,

    Standing up to a bully is usually the best way forward. It takes courage but with success comes a tremendous sense of self-esteem and empowerment

also see

  • 8 to 16 years
  • bullying at schools
  • parent
  • peer pressure
  • psychology
  • talking topics

useful links

  • Appearance and bullying study

    ,
                
           
           

related articles

  • How a codeword can improve communication with your teen daughter, helping you offer relationship
  • The Dove Self-Esteem Project & Be Real Campaign support parents & teachers to increase self worth
  • Is your child obsessed with celebrities or reality shows? Use our action checklist to counter
  • Frustrated by the portrayal of women in the media? Find new role models for teens, and help your
  • Use our Cracking Compliments video and tips to help your child learn how respond to compliments –
  • How to improve communication skills to talk to your daughter effectively & strengthen your
Back To Top
dove logo
Contact us
Site map
Cookie Notice
Privacy Notice
Terms of use
Disclaimer
Accessibility
facebook
twitter
instagram
youtube
Arabia
  • AR

    عرض هذا الموقع في ar

    Location

    sa Change location
unilever logo

© {{dynamicYear}} Unilever