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The world of modern day girl bullying is multi faceted, complex and something every school, youth worker and parent wants to overcome. Girl Bullying takes a detailed look at these complexities, together with both proactive and reactive strategies for intervening, managing and teasing out the intricacies that are present when girls bully, and fall prey to those bullies. The aim is to help adults working with girls develop a toolbox of strategies and understanding that can help to provide bespoke approaches. Dealing with these issues takes time and patience, trust and knowledge of those involved and most of all it takes a willingness to appreciate the world around girls today. Written by an expert child psychologist, Girl Bullying aims to increase understanding of the fall out, psychological impact and support strategies for both victims and perpetrators of bullying. Bullying can have a detrimental effect on the academic attainment, self-esteem and day-to-day lives of all the individuals involved. Healthier coping strategies are life skills that help us all to function effectively not just in a school environment, but throughout later life. This is essential reading for anyone working with girls aged 5–16 who wants to facilitate proactive and pro-social skill foundations.
"I read the book in light of one of my doctoral students just completed her dissertation on bullying and thus this book was a nice timely read. My impressions are that this is a book that should be in every school and guidance counselors office. Parents would benefit from reading this book as it is readable and the breadth of coverage is comprehensive without being overwhelming, and the author captures the extant literature well. The stylistic approach makes it useful for individual as well as group work on the issues raised. I think there is a very wide audience appeal and I mentioned it should be in schools as a resource."
- Sid Mitchell, The University of Maine
"With the focus in all educational and training establishments on ‘prevent’ strategies to safeguard the welfare of learners from grooming, radicalisation and bullying, this is an essential text for all establishments of learning. Dr Sam has utilised her breadth of skills and experience to hear the views and opinions of young people who have experience as victims, perpetrators and bystanders of bullying. Her analysis of Jodie’s story gives the reader practical insight and skills in analysing the wider picture, the dynamics of power and the fall-out from confrontations. The damage caused to and by girls as a result of bullying, in all its forms, and the ramifications are discussed at length. Readers will find the section on the way forward and systems to develop an effective policy to reduce bullying particularly helpful. This is an outstanding book which addresses a key issue within educational establishments, the community and workplace."
- John T. Morris, Director, JTM Educational Consultants
"Dr Sam has a wealth of experience in responding to bullying and in providing support, training and development to parents and those working with young people. Her warmth, empathy and knowledge are evident in Do I Look Bothered? This will be reassuring to readers who are seeking to understand and tackle the complex and dark world of bullying. Readers will be given confidence to tackle this difficult subject.
In Do I Look Bothered? Dr Sam takes a fresh approach in focusing on girl bullying and analysing the experience of both girls who are victims and those who are perpetrators. Gender is a key factor in social interactions and it is helpful to consider this in the context of bullying. It is also useful to point the spotlight on girls because we know from the children and young people contacting ChildLine that more than twice as many girls were counselled by the helpline as boys about bullying and online bullying. ChildLine has seen a very significant increase in the number of girls talking about feeling excluded or isolated as a result of being bullied. Confirming Dr Sam’s approach, ChildLine has also seen a large increase in concerns about cyberbullying. Do I Look Bothered? addresses these issues in detail in relation to girls, emphasising that young people do not differentiate between the online and offline worlds.
A strength of Do I Look Bothered? is that the author relates the experience of bullying to child and adolescent development. This provides important insights into why bullying can have such a significant and devastating impact on the well-being of those affected. Bullying can affect a child’s development, self-esteem, confidence, and capacity to form relationships. Sadly, too many professionals and others working with young people lack a good understanding of chid development and Do I Look Bothered? will help meet a real need.
Using case studies and the results of consultations with children and young people, Dr Sam offers a comprehensive approach to tackling bullying. She rightly argues that bullying needs to be addressed holistically at a number of different levels and demonstrates the vital need to be proactive in preventing bullying happening in the first place. Dr Sam provides detailed strategies based on placing the views and experiences of the girls affected at the centre."
- Christopher Cloke, Head of Safeguarding in Communities, NSPCC, Former Chair, Anti-Bullying Alliance
