ODD Girl

Odd Girl out: the Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls by Rachel Simmons discusses the prevalence of female bullying in schools. This book offers “a glimpse of the back alleys and hidden corners of girl bullying, and to begin the process of naming and understanding it (19).” Simmons begins the book by describing her own experience with female bullying, particularly during the third grade and how the pain from that experience continues to follow her to this day. This pain led her to research and write about this hidden aggression. In Odd Girl Out, Rachel Simmons explores this hidden culture using interviews with girls in school as well as older victims of childhood bullying to highlight the prevalence of female harassment. Through speaking to these diverse groups of females, Simmons is able to uncover the harmful ways in which girls use friendship as a weapon to gain control and inflict pain towards those with whom they are angry. The immense fear of being alone is felt so stron...