How Is Girl-To-Girl Bullying Different?
Girl bullies don’t usually throw punches, but
they definitely leave their mark. Girls tend
to be less physical and more emotional
and verbal than boys. They do things they
dismiss as “just drama,” such as gossip,
spread rumors, call each other nasty names,
pit one girl against another and exclude
people from their group. Surprisingly, girl-to-
girl bullying often happens between friends.
Girls can control the culture of their school
or group of friends so that being mean
doesn’t mean being popular. We’ve teamed
up with anti-bullying experts to create
amazing tips and tools on MeanStinks.com
that are specifically created just for girls to
spread nice and end the mean streak.
5 Tips To Identify Girl-To-Girl Bullying
1. Anyone can be a bully. Even a friend.
2. It can be anything: name-calling, mean text
messages, abusive phone calls, threatening
body language and physical violence.
3. Bullying doesn’t just happen once. It keeps
happening over time. It doesn’t stop.
4. Bullies often gang up on one person. But
bullying can also be one-on-one.
5. Ask yourself how you feel about what you’re
doing and seeing. If you feel threatened or
someone else feels threatened, it’s bullying.
What Is Bullying?
• Exclusion. Purposefully leaving someone out or
threatening to “break up,” using the friendship
as a weapon.
• Gossip and rumors. Spreading stories or
information behind someone’s back, including
ones about being promiscuous, can end
up damaging reputations and destroying
relationships.
• Silent treatment. Signaling “our friendship might
be over,” or “you’re not worth talking to.”
• Body language — such as eye rolling, noises
(ack!), mean looks and staring — that signals “I
hate you.”
• Verbal put-downs like using sarcasm to be
mean, teasing, calling someone a mean name,
making repeated abusive phone calls and
using phrases after criticism such as “Can’t you
take a joke?” or “Just kidding.”
• Hurtful or damaging texts or posts on
Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, even if they
end with a “JK” or “LOL.”
Ways That Being A Bystander Shows
You Agree With A Bully
• Laughing, giggling, ignoring the situation, doing
nothing, pointing, staring, whispering to other
people about it, gossiping about it.
• Playing the messenger between bully and
victim. If there are problems between friends,
encourage them to talk on their own.
• Spreading rumors you heard.
• Jumping on the bandwagon. If your friends are
ignoring someone, don’t ignore her. If you hear
a rumor, don’t repeat it.
• Liking or favoriting a mean post on Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram or other social sites.
If You See Bullying Happening
• Talk directly to the victim. Say something to get
the victim away, such as “Let’s get out of here.”
Ask if she is okay. Ask if she needs your help.
• Stand near the victim. As others step away,
step forward.
• Provide support. Tell her you’re sorry and you
don’t agree.
• Tell others not to join in on the bullying. You can
make a difference by encouraging others to do
the same.
• When you talk to other bystanders, use their
names and look directly at them. Tell them to
stop laughing and encouraging, then tell them
to leave.
• Show empathy for the victim. “I would feel sad
and angry too.” “I’m so sorry this is happening.”
• Encourage the victim to tell an adult. Offer to
go with her.
• If you have not seen the bullying but suspect it
is happening, ask. Voice your concern.
If You Are Being Bullied
• Leave the situation. Try to do this before things
escalate.
• Respond directly to the bully. But take time
to figure out what to say. Be assertive and
confident. Keep a calm and steady voice.
• Ask for help. If you see someone you know, call
them by name. If no one you know is close by,
ask whoever is standing close.
• Use fogging – respond with neutral or
affirmative statements that won’t escalate the
situation. Try things like, “Maybe.” “That’s your
opinion.” “Whatever.”
• Use a comeback line. Stump them and make
them think twice, but with no intention of
angering the bully. You could say, “Whatever
you say.”
• If you decide to respond, take time and
practice. Be assertive and confident but not
aggressive. Keep a calm voice and maintain
eye contact.
Created in partnership with
How To Be A Good Friend
• Be a good listener. Don’t interrupt. Maintain eye
contact. Give supportive advice if asked.
• Be honest. And keep what she says private.
• Be loyal. If you hear people talking about your
friend, stand up for her.
• Be supportive and offer advice, as well as
comments that let her know that she is not to
blame.
• If you have a disagreement, be assertive but
not aggressive. Ask for what you want in a firm
but respectful way without intentionally hurting
her.
• Be proactive. If you know someone who has
been bullied and has no friends, reach out to
her.
• Introduce her to your friends. Say nice things
about her to other people.
What To Do If You Are A Bully
• Think about the victim. How would it feel?
• Learn to control your anger and aggression.
Choose to be assertive rather than aggressive.
Think of the consequences of your actions.
• Think before you post online. If you wouldn’t
say it to her face, don’t post it or text it. If you
are angry or upset, put down your phone and
don’t post anything.
• Find a more productive way to deal with
anything you are going through. Talk to friends,
play a sport, join a club, write in a journal or
exercise. All are great ways to let off steam.
• Apologize to former victims if possible. Do it
privately. Don’t be upset if they don’t forgive
you immediately. Show them the “new you.”
• Ask teachers or counselors if you can help
other bullies or victims.
• Stand up for others being bullied.
• Set goals for how to stop bullying. “I will not
start gossip today.” “I will say something nice
today.”
• Make new friends. You may be hanging out with
people who encourage your bullying habits.
For more information, go to MeanStinks.com or
GirlsGuidetoEndBullying.org
 1. Anyone can be a bully. Even a friend.
2. It can be anything: name-calling,
text messages, abusive phone calls,
threatening body language and
physical violence.
3. Bullying doesn’t just happen once.
It keeps happening over time. It
doesn’t stop.
4. Bullies often gang up on one person.
But bullying can also be one-on-one.
5. Ask yourself, do you feel good about
what you’re doing and seeing?

Find more Mean Stinks Tips and other ways to help fight bullying at MeanStinks.com
1. Exclusion. Purposefully leaving someone out or
threatening to ‘break-up,’ using the friendship
as a weapon.
2. Gossip and Rumors. Stories or information
spread behind their back, including about
being promiscuous, can end up damaging
reputations and destroying relationships.
3. Silent Treatment. Signaling ‘our friendship
might be over,’ or ‘you’re not worth talking to.’
4. Body language like eye rolling, noises (ach!),
mean looks and staring that signals ‘I hate you.’
5. Verbal put-downs like using sarcasm to be
mean, teasing, calling someone a mean name,
making repeated abusive phone calls and
using phrases after criticism like ‘can’t you take
a joke?’ or ‘just kidding.’
6. Hurtful or damaging texts or posts on
Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, even if they
end with a ‘jk’ or ‘lol.’

Find more Mean Stinks Tips and other ways to help fight bullying at MeanStinks.com
 1. Laughing, giggling, ignoring the
situation, doing nothing, pointing,
staring, whispering to other people
about it, gossiping about it.
2. Playing the messenger between bully
and victim. If there are problems
between friends, encourage them to
talk on their own.
3. Spreading rumors you heard.
4. Jumping on the bandwagon. If your
friends are ignoring someone, don’t
ignore her. If you hear a rumor, don’t
repeat it.
5. Liking or favoriting a mean post on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other
social sites.

Find more Mean Stinks Tips and other ways to help fight bullying at MeanStinks.com
 1. Talk directly to the victim. Say something to get the
victim away like ‘let’s get out of here.’ Ask if she is
okay. Ask if she needs your help.
2. Stand near the victim. As others step away, step
forward.
3. Provide support. Tell her you’re sorry and you
don’t agree.
4. Tell others to not join in on the bullying. You can
make a difference by encouraging others to not
join in the bullying.
5. When you talk to other bystanders, use their
names and look directly at them. Tell them to
stop laughing and encouraging, then tell them to
leave.
6. Show empathy. ‘I would feel sad and angry too.’
‘I’m so sorry this is happening.’
7. Encourage her to tell an adult. Offer to go with her.
8. If you have not seen the bullying, but suspect it is
happening, ask. Voice your concern.

Find more Mean Stinks Tips and other ways to help fight bullying at MeanStinks.com
 1. Leave the situation. Try to do this before
things escalate.
2. Respond directly to the bully. But take time
to figure out what to say. Be assertive and
confident. Keep a calm and steady voice.
3. Ask for help. If you see someone you know,
call them by name. If no one you know is
close by, ask whoever is standing close.
4. Use fogging – using neutral or agreeing
statements to respond without escalating the
situation. Try things like, “Maybe.” “That’s your
opinion.” “Whatever.”
5. Use a comeback line. Stump them and make
them think twice, but it is not meant to anger
the bully. You could say, “Whatever you say.”
6. If you decide to respond, take time and
practice. Be assertive and confident but not
aggressive. Keep a calm voice and keep eye
contact.

Find more Mean Stinks Tips and other ways to help fight bullying at MeanStinks.com
 1. Be a good listener. Don’t interrupt. Keep eye
contact. Give supportive advice if asked.
2. Be honest. Keep what she says private.
3. Be loyal. If you hear people talking about
your friend, stand up for her.
4. Be supportive and offer advice. Offer
comments that make her feel that she is not
to blame.
5. If you have a disagreement, be assertive but
not aggressive. Ask for what you want in a
firm but respectful way without intentionally
hurting her.
6. Be proactive. If you know someone who has
been bulled who doesn’t have friends, reach
out to her.
7. Introduce her to your friends. Say nice things
about her to other people.

Find more Mean Stinks Tips and other ways to help fight bullying at MeanStinks.com
 1. Think about the victim. How would it feel?
2. Learn to control your anger and aggression. Choose
to be assertive rather than aggressive. Think of the
consequences of your actions.
3. Think before you post online. If you wouldn’t say it
to her face, don’t post it or text it. If you are angry
or upset, put down your phone and don’t post
anything.
4. Find a more productive way to deal with anything you
are going through. Talk to friends, play a sport, join a
club, write in a journal or exercise. All are great ways
to let off steam.
5. Apologize to former victims if possible. Do it
privately. Don’t be upset if they don’t forgive you
immediately. Show them the “new you.”
6. Ask teachers or counselors if you can help other
bullies or victims.
7. Set goals for how to stop bullying. “I will not start
gossip today.” “I will say something nice today.”
8. Make new friends. You make be hanging out with
people who encourage your bullying habits.

Find more Mean Stinks Tips and other ways to help fight bullying at MeanStinks.com
 MEAN STINKS. THAT’S WHY WE’RE UNITING TO STOMP OUT MEAN FOREVER,
BY PAINTING OUR PINKY NAILS BLUE AND PLACING OUR BEAUTIFUL SIGNATURES
ON THIS AGREEMENT TO GANG UP FOR GOOD, WE AGREE
TO MAKE A PACT, A SIMPLE VOW TO SWEAR OFF BULLYING AND HAVE EACH
OTHER’S BACKS WHEN MEAN TRIES TO SHOW ITS STINKIN’ FACE.

WE SIGN ON THIS ............................. DAY OF............................. 2015

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2015