Female Adolescent Violence Essay

Introduction

It sounds rather peculiar when one talks of girl violation. Cases have been told where young girls especially teenagers who engages in cruel behaviors. This is contrary to the perception that women or females are nonviolent. In the olden days, the female folk was tied to traditional norms which obligated them to be respectful. Today, this notion has changed as young girls have lost the respect that was once earned. The objective of this paper is to analyze the article ‘Girls’ Violence, entitled Situational Effects of Gender Inequality. The paper discusses how girls choose to adopt violent strategies as well as how they negotiate within a potentially violent situation. The paper also aims to explain what the authors mean by the significance of contextual construction of unequal power relations and gender asymmetries. It discusses how the authors of this article and other articles in this text explain the choices girls make to use violent strategies in particular contexts. This is as well as the strategies girls use to negotiate violent situations. To achieve this, the paper is developed by addressing misogynist, racist, classist, heterosexist, albeit and ageist violence committed by adolescent females.

How girls choose to adopt violent strategies

According to Miller and White (2004.p.203), Girls’ violence is produced within social contexts of extreme gender inequality cases have different forms which include physical attacks and abusive language. Female violation is proof that girls are as bad as boys and that they can get in any kind of physical fight. Girls can choose to adopt violation strategies in several circumstances. Bullying is also a form of violence in schools as some students are intimidated by other superior students. This is an example of how girls get into violent behaviors (Adler & Warral, 2004, p.5). Schoolgirls often intimidate other students especially when they feel they are greater. Other cases have been told of how girls get into gang groups and attack victims in the street. An example is given of a girl named Reena who was attacked and killed by some other girls (Batacharya,2004,p 61).In her article, Batacharya states that there certain issues that were to be considered to understand the murder of Reena. The issues include the symbiotic implementation of racism, sexism, classism, ableism, and heterosexism. The brutal murder is connected to racism because the attackers were whites while Reena herself was a South Asian woman. There are cases where school girls isolate themselves in terms of class and can be violent towards those they feel are from low class. Heterosexism is the scenario where girls become violent against those they view as lesbians. In such cases, girls become violent because of these unethical behaviors (Burman, 2004, p.194).

The strategies girls use to negotiate violently

In North America, it is reported that violent cases became a serious concern as early as1990s. Girls can get involved in violence because of a violation they might be subjected to (Artz, 2004.p.200). This means that there are girls who can engage in violence only when they are attacked. Probably they become violent in their self-defense. The increasing trend of girl violence can be connected to a feminist who influences other girls to be vicious (Worral, 2004, p.74). This influence occurs when feminists struggle for equality. In the situation of feminism, white women are reported to have faced the hegemonic edifice of feminist. Women were seen in the frontline seeking political positions alongside the male folk. Some girls get into violence to show that they are equal to boys. Girls of this kind can become physically disapprove of the ideology that only boys can fight. These are some of the gender issues that women fight for even in the current days. Feminists regard themselves as equal to men and want to be given recognition just like men (Batacharya, 2004, p.194).

Violent cases have been told of how girls get into gang groups and attack victims in the street. An example is given of a girl named Reena who was attacked and killed by some other girls (Batacharya,2004.p 61).In her article, Batacharya states that there certain issues that were to be considered to understand the murder of Reena. The issues include the symbiotic implementation of racism, sexism, classism, ableism, and heterosexism. The brutal murder is connected to racism because the attackers were whites while Reena herself was a South Asian woman. Miller and White have used the term, Significance contextual construction of unequal power relations and gender asymmetries in their article. The term refers to uneven power share between females and male folk. It’s the impact of having an imbalance of power in a given setup. By using this term, the author refers to uneven opportunities that have fueled female violence in society. Gender asymmetries are the irregularities between men and women when it comes to powers (Miller &White 2004.p.202).

Conclusion

Indeed, there is a significance of contextual construction of unequal power relations and gender asymmetries as stated by the author. Gender issues are some of the reasons why girls get involved in violent behaviors. Girls often choose to become violent to satisfy their desire and can go to the extremes of getting physical with their victims.

Reference

Adler C & Warral A (2004) Girl Violence, A Contemporary Crisis? Albany, NY 12210-2365.University of New York Press. Web.

Artz, S (2004).Violence in the Schoolyard: Use of Violence. Albany, NY 12210-2365.University of New York Press. Web.

Batacharya, S. (2004).Racism, “Girl Violence” And The Murder of Reena Virk. Albany, NY 12210-2365.New York: University Of New York Press. Web.

Burman, M. (2004). Turbulent Talk: Girls Making Sense of Violence. Albany, NY 12210-2365. University of New York Press. Web.

White, N & Miller, J (2004). Girls’ Violence, entitled “Situational Effects of Gender Inequality”. Albany, NY 12210-2365.University of New York Press. Web.

Worral, A. (2004). Twisted Sisters, Ladettes, and the New Penology: The Social Construction of “Violence Girls”. Albany, NY 12210-2365.University of New York Press. Web.