School Bullying in the Lives of Girls and Boys

School bullying is a social phenomenon that is deeply embedded in the peer culture – a culture which has its roots in gendered patterns of interactions. Gender differences in interactional styles, exacerbated by gender segregated relationships, underlie how school bullying is manifested, impacting the prevalence of bullying and the identity of bullies and victims, the form that bullying takes, the social correlates of bullying, and even peers’ awareness of bullying. The purpose of this talk is to discuss how and why gender and gendered peer relationships impact school bullying. In doing so, I will take a social relationship perspective on school bullying. I will conclude by discussing how a school-based intervention can address the gender-based relationship processes that contribute to school bullying for girls and boys.