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AUSTIN, TX - Dirty looks, taunting notes, and exclusion from social groups are just a few of the examples of female bullying that girls and women have long suffered through silently and painfully. There is a hidden culture of girls' aggression in our schools that is as widespread as it is painful.
GENaustin, a local non-profit dedicated to inspiring girls to grow into healthy, confident women, is pleased to host Rachel Simmons for an evening discussion to explore female bullying and discuss her new book, Odd Girl Speaks Out: Girls Write about Bullies, Cliques, Popularity, and Jealousy. On January 22, 2004, Rachel and a panel of teen girls will give frank and honest advice, as well as answer questions from girls and parents on the subject. This event will take place at the Austin Jewish Community Center's Community Hall at
6:00 p.m. A donation of $15 to benefit GENaustin is suggested. To reserve a space, all interested girls, parents, and educators are encouraged to call 414-0472 or email office@genaustin.org. School system employees will be admitted free of charge with identification.
Rachel Simmons spearheaded a movement with her bestselling book, Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls. Her research about female aggression exposed a topic that was previously dismissed as a "stage" that girls secretly endure. Bullying in girls was little understood and even less talked about. Upon publication of Odd Girl Out, cover stories ran in Newsweek and the New York Times Magazine. Rachel Simmons was interviewed for stories on Dateline NBC, Oprah, the Today Show, and National Public Radio. As Rachel toured the country to talk about these abusive relationships kept secret for so long, she found girls-as well as their parents, teachers, counselors, even grown women-eager to share their experiences. Rachel Simmons invited girls to tell her their stories by email, and received a tremendous response.
Odd Girl Speaks Out: Girls Write About Bullies, Cliques, Popularity, and Jealousy, coming from Harcourt on January 19, 2004, is a collection of these e-mails, told in the girls' own words. It is an assortment of poems, songs, confessions, and essays that demonstrate just how devastating female aggression can be-from the silent treatment to rumor-spreading, from peer pressure to friend "dumping." Rachel responds to the girls' letters with suggestions for how to deal with these hurtful interactions, and discusses ways to foster more positive and open relationships.
Rachel Simmons graduated from Vassar in 1996, where she studied women's studies and political science. In 1998, a Rhodes scholarship for study at Oxford launched her research of female bullying and girls' psychology, leading to Odd Girl Out. She has worked in politics in Washington, D.C., and New York City and lives in Brooklyn. Rachel is currently the director of The Girls' Leadership Institute, a Sidwell Friends summer program and a consultant to schools all over the country. For more information about Rachel Simmons, please visit www.rachelsimmons.com
GENaustin is a non-profit organization based in Austin, TX, and was founded in 1996. GENaustin is made up of volunteers committed to helping girls grow into healthy, confident women who feel valued for what's inside, and not outside, themselves. Our mission is to help adolescent girls develop and maintain healthy self-esteem through the education of the girls, their parents, their teachers and others who touch their lives. For more information about GENaustin, please visit www.genaustin.org.
The mission of the Jewish Community Center of Austin is to enhance the quality of Jewish life in the greater Austin area and around the world, through charitable, educational, social service, cultural, religious and recreational endeavors. The JCAA is located on the 40-acre Dell Jewish Community Campus, located at 7300 Hart Lane in Austin. For more information on the JCAA, please visit www.jcaaonline.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Amanda Erickson - Harcourt Trade - Phone: (212) 592-1094 Fax: (212) 592-1160
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