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Girl fights: exploring females’ resistance to educational structures

Lisa Leitz (Department of Sociology; University of California; Santa Barbara, CA 93106)

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy

ISSN: 0144-333X

Publication date: 1 November 2003

Abstract

This article looks at girls who fight in order to evaluate theories of education for marginalized girls. As oppositional culture and educational resistance theories suggest for boys’ misconduct in school, girl fights are found to be a product of deindustrialization, family expectations, and peer culture. Within peer groups of marginalized students an oppositional culture develops such that girls gain respect from their peers by fighting because they demonstrate a necessary toughness. Girls who fight have a complicated relationship to education. Contrary to oppositional culture theory, these girls value educational achievement. However, the girls’ relationships with teachers are strained. Teachers do not appreciate “tough” girls. Race, class, and gender together construct a student culture that produces girls who fight in school.

Keywords

Citation

Leitz, L. (2003), "Girl fights: exploring females’ resistance to educational structures", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 23 No. 11, pp. 15-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443330310790345

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Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited

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