Girl Cliques – The Roles Teen Girls Play
Teenage Girl World’s sophisticated social structure is filled with social intrigue and provides a political backdrop for some teenage girls to assume social power over their peers. Girl cliques are complex and multi-layered with most girls taking on a role within the clique. Social positions within the clique are not static, as a girl can lose her position within the hierarchy to another girl and can move up and down the social totem pole.
In her book, “Queen Bees and Wannabes,” author Rosalind Wiseman suggests that there are at least seven (7) different roles that girls take on within the structure of a social clique. These roles make up the social fabric within the clique and determine how each child will influence or affect relationships with others around her.
The leader of the cabal is usually the queen bee. For this girl, her popularity is based on fear and control. Through a combination of charisma, looks, money, willpower, strength, and manipulation, this girl rules over her peers and can weaken friendships between other girls, thus strengthening her own power and influence. Most queen bees are unwilling to acknowledge the cruelty of her actions. She is the center of attention and people appreciate being around her energy and power.
The second in command within the clique of girls is Sidekick. She is closest to the Queen Bee and will back her up no matter what in her thirst to siphon some of her power. She shares the mannerisms (and often the style of dress!) of the Queen Bee. Together, they appear to the other girls as an impenetrable force. They often bully and silence the other girls to further their own agenda.
Information and gossip about each other is the currency of the teenage world. The banker is the role within the girl clique that spreads this seemingly valuable information. She creates chaos wherever she goes by storing information about her companions and distributing it at strategic intervals for her own benefit. The banker can have a lot of power within the cabal.
There is usually one girl in the clique who may also be friends with other girls or part of another clique of girls. This is the role of The Floater. She has friends in different groups and can freely move between them. She may have “protective” characteristics that protect her from other girls’ cruelties, perhaps good looks, good grades, etc. She avoids conflicts within her main clique and she can have a higher self-esteem than others because she doesn’t base her self-esteem image on being accepted within the clique.
The Torn Bystander is constantly conflicted between doing the right thing and his loyalty to the cabal. She is frequently caught in the middle of conflicts between the other girls. She can even rationalize the disrespectful behavior of Queen Bee and others, despite knowing that she is wrong. Associating with the other girls in the clique, this role values access to popularity and high social status.
Doing anything to be in Queen Bee’s good graces, The Pleaser/Wannabe will enthusiastically back Queen Bee and Sidekick no matter what. He will imitate clothing, style, and anything else that he feels will increase or improve his standing in the group. She is motivated above all else to please the girl who is above her on the social totem pole. This role is determined not to seem like she’s trying too hard to fit in.
Target is the victim of the cabal, created by the other girls to be humiliated, ridiculed and excluded. The social hierarchy of the clique is maintained by having someone clearly at the bottom of the social totem pole. Any challenge to the status of Queen Bee, or the balance of power within the group, can make a girl the target of the cabal. Many times this role will feel totally powerless in the face of the cruelty of the other girls.
Parents can make a difference at Girl World. Understanding roles within a clique of girls can help parents better understand what their daughter may be going through during her middle or high school day. Different parenting styles will affect how a parent reacts to a girl’s experiences in this social structure. Healthy active listening and exploring problem-solving techniques will help girls become better equipped to navigate Girl World.