Girls Will Be Girls

          Ellen Goodman’s article, ‘Girls Will Be Girls,’ written in 2002 for a nationally syndicated column, addresses issues that are in the forefront of today’s society.  The sarcastic introduction of the article was a great way to get the reader’s attention and to lead into the rest of the text. She puts in perspective the actions of ‘RMG’s (Really Mean Girls) that have recently made their way to the mainstream media.  Goodman accurately points out that it is viewed and described differently if similar actions are conducted by boys.  Ellen Goodman simply points out that boys and girls are the same. It is an act of bullying no matter how the story is told.  Cattiness, backbiting, jealousy and contentiousness are just a few terms to describe the behavior that Ms. Goodman is referring to for girls and almost every girl has experienced this in one form or another.

Goodman relates the seriousness of mean girls to Columbine killings.  Although the aftermath of mean girls has not reached the level of Columbine physically, mentally it can have long lasting effects and some girls have taken their lives for what may appear as a diminutive issue.  Really mean girls is not a new phenomenon. 

No one should ever resign themselves to being bullied as a child.  Nothing is inevitable unless you sit back and allow it!  Parents have an obligation to intervene when this activity becomes over the top, whether their child is a victim of RMG’s or has chosen to be a mean girl.  On the other hand, somehow it seems to have resulted in adults with strong character if they were able to survive the ostracizing and isolation intended by the bully.

            We did not see the finale of the sitcom Ally McBeal, but she always seemed to have fought battles in her mind.  She never allowed her surroundings to dictate to her mentally, although she never fought physically. Go Ally! And sometimes life brings about positive change...