Educational Media Reviews Online

It’s a Girl’s World provides a realistic view of girl bullies by illustrating and describing the world of social bullying. According to psychologists, this bullying process “transcends country and socio-economic status. It happens when girls come together.” Created as a video documentary, the film shows how one community of parents with advice from psychologists, authors, and researchers work to change the bullying behavior of their 10 year-old daughters. In the video, parents are able to observe this behavior through closed circuit video clips of their daughters on a playground at a Montreal school. The viewer also sees how bullying “can spiral out of control” through the detailed exploration of an extreme bully situation that resulted in the suicide of a 14-year old girl. The replay of such tragic results in a semi-silhouette slow motion effect against a backdrop of conversation of family members of the students charged, comments of the mother of the student, and poignant comments from the judge help the viewer see the suicide from several perspectives. Although the suicide description is discussed at length, the viewer will also see separate moments when the parents of both bullies and victims talk and the students respond. The viewer is able to listen to the comments of the school professionals, psychologists, and authors and observe how to help the girls improve this negative behavior. As one student commented, “you feel more powerful but sometimes you feel worse.” Important for students is the scene where Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out, talks to a group of girls about anger, power, and aggressive behavior. Her empathetic conversation certainly helps the students and viewers understand ways to have healthy conflict.

The accompanying music and various statements printed on the screen to describe what will be seen help underscore the ominous nature of this behavior. Especially effective are the candid comments from parents and students describing the application of “tough love.” We are also able to listen to the victim’s response as one “bully” makes an apology as part of the treatment for the behavior.

The DVD includes the feature documentary (full version of the video), specific scene selections, the classroom interactive documentaries, and a radio documentary. In addition to the DVD format, the film is available as full version and special classroom version editions. The classroom version includes six modules that encourage classroom discussion “around the nature of social bullying in friendships, especially among girls.” These modules identify clique behaviors from the aggressor, target, and witness perspectives. Modules 5 and 6 are intended for children 14 years and older. The organization of the classroom version with the specific scenarios and description followed by a key question for students makes an effective classroom presentation for students.

This documentary is an excellent educational supplement for parents, students, and teachers. With more discussions and conversations highlighting the anti-social behavior of bullies, it will be possible to provide awareness and create a supportive environment that can result in positive changes for bully behavior. It should be an addition for public and school library collections as well as for Education and Sociology collections in colleges and universities. Highly recommended!