See Jane Hit: Why Girls Are Growing More Violent and What We Can Do About It

by James Garbarino

From one of America's leading authorities on juvenile violence comes a groundbreaking investigation of the explosion of violent behavior in girls With "Lost Boys," James Garbarino became our foremost explicator of violent behavior in boys. Now he turns his attention to its increasing incidence in girls. Twenty-five years ago, ten boys were arrested for assault for every one girl. Now that ratio is four-to-one and dropping. Combining clinical experience with incisive analyses of social trends, Garbarino traces the factors--many of them essentially positive--behind the epidemic: girls' increased participation in sports and greater comfort with their physicality, but also their lack of training in handling aggression. "See Jane Hit" goes beyond diagnosing the problem to outline a clear-eyed, compassionate solution.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Amanda M. Lyons · Rating 1 out of 5]

Far too many of this author's theories on why girls are more aggressive seem to based in sexist notions about where women and girls "belong" in society. I picked the book hoping for something informative and interesting and instead got sexist excuses. Try harder there are real answers!

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about why girls are growing ever more violent in American society.

A bit of ambivalence toward this book. I agree with the author's hypothesis - that many girls (not just troubled ones) in today's society ARE growing more agressive; expressing it in ways both physical and verbal.

I'm just not sure I agree with a basic premise of his, that female inclusion into the world of sports has opened the door for this aggressiveness to spill over into life outside the basketball court (or baseball field, or whatever).


As far as I can see, he cites no statistics for this claim linking female athletes (or girls in general) to physical violence outside of sports situations. Do athletic girls tend to be more violent outside the court? Are nonathletic girls more violent as a result of what happens in the sports world? His evidence in the book seems to be purely anecdotal.

I do agree with his points about girls' talents in the realms of verbal and relational aggression. This has traditionally been the means of gaining and expressing power in the world of the female, and it too appears to be on the rise.

In our media-soaked culture that celebrates assertiveness/aggression/violence in both males and females, the author concludes that while boys have "already reached an upper ceiling; troubled boys are already about as violent as they can get", there may still be "growth potential" for girls' physical aggression; a rather depressing outlook for society as a whole.

[Jacqlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, fast psych book.

Garbarino is extremely knowledgable in aggression in general, and I like how he discusses the difference in girls than boys. There are a lot of complexities along with this issue mostly stemming from the fact that women are empowered and it is at the root of aggression in girls. This issue has a real double-edge sword.

There is also a lot of talk in this book about social-toxicity in our culture and TV.

Good points all around. I would definately pair this with "Odd Girl Out" by Rachel Simmons.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I work with violent men mostly and they often claim that the women they are involved with are violent. The arrest rates for girls and women of violent crimes is on the increase. So I have to ask myself what is going on? Is this part of media images, women's liberation, androgyny, violent culture, that and more? Garbarino has some theories and some answers which makes the book useful to me in teaching and responding to clients.

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

im reading it for class. when i started reading it i automatically was turned off by the theory that the more girls feel confident or join sports the more aggressive they become. later the author goes on to change his mind and not agree and give good facts and example on how girls ARE becoming more aggressive. so far it's ok. i have to wait and read the rest to see how good it actually is.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very necessary book about the rise of physical aggression in adolescent females. Focuses primarily on the delinquent use of physical aggression, but does bring up some of the more positive aspects, such as increased participation in sports. Strong on research, weak on ideas for helping the problem.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since reading this book I've been paying more attention to how female aggression is portrayed in the media. The author's main point, as far as "what we can do about it", seems to be channel it into sports. I was hoping for a bit more on that score...

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one for a class but it did not feel like that when I was reading it - very interesting perspective on why girls have become more aggressive and what can be done about it.

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

dry toast...when I am VERY hungry...

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting topic. Irritating discussion.