Home > Work > Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence
1 " each person’s truth is of equal value. No one gets to speak for anyone else or dismiss an opinion just because it’s not shared by the people who have the most power. "
― Rosalind Wiseman , Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence
2 " The common definition of a clique is an exclusive group of girls who are close friends. I see it a little differently. I see them as a platoon of soldiers who have banded together because they think this is the best way to survive Girl World. There’s a chain of command, and they operate as one to the outside world, even if there may be dissatisfaction within the ranks. Group cohesion is based on unquestioned loyalty to the leaders and an “It’s us against the world” mentality. "
3 " I urge every parent to become a Loving Hard-Ass Parent. "
4 " For most teenage girls, guys are everything. Boys validate their existence; they define who they are and where they stand in the world. You can talk to boys differently than your girlfriends. Until they screw you over, they can be really fun and comforting. "
5 " And this is absolutely certain—teens will never stop coming up with new and creative ways to use technology to go after each other and the adults in the community. "
6 " 17% of girls have experienced a physical attack… 97% of students report regularly hearing homophobic remarks by peers… 53% hear homophobic comments by teaching staff… "
7 " People fight over technology in ways they never would face-to-face because they can say their version of events without getting immediate feedback that might challenge it. It allows people to throw more intense self-righteous temper tantrums. "
8 " Time and time again, they all say the same thing. The worst punishment is losing your respect and disappointing you and taking away their ability to communicate with their peers. "
9 " Be very, very nice to your school's computer specialist. He, along with the custodians, is often the most underappreciated person in the building. "
10 " I made a big mistake, which I’m really trying to deal with. You bringing it up makes me feel worse. I’m not sure if that’s your point, but I promise you that I would never make you feel bad if you were in my situation, so I’m done talking about this.” GIRLS "
11 " Because although we have told girls that they’re as smart and as competent as boys, they still get conscious and unconscious messages that they need a man to validate their self-worth and that, to get the man in the first place, they have to present themselves in a nonthreatening (read feminine) manner. "