Citation

Boyer W. Youth Soc. 2010; 42(1): 33-58.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0044118X09351790

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This research study explored preadolescent girl-to-girl violence based on the perceptions of the victim at 14 years of age and those of her family. Using a heuristic research design (Moustakas, 1990), this constant comparative analysis of multiple data sources found (a) a clearly delineated progression of girl-to-girl violence, (b) blindness surrounding girl-to-girl violence in the responses of not only the victim’s family but also the victim herself, and (c) proactive factors and strategies for early recognition and prevention of girl-to-girl violence. The implications based on these findings include examining when and under what conditions various forms of aggression emerged, alternative trajectories of victimization, and future research that can inform the prevention of girl-to-girl violence.