Name: ______________________________
Week of Respect
Date: _______________________________
Period 1,3,4,6,7
Mean Girls
Teaching Tolerance & Anti-Bullying Week
“Bullies are made, not born.”
According to Psychology Today, “Bullying is a distinctive pattern of deliberately
harming and humiliating others. It’s a very durable behavioral style, largely because
bullies get what they want – at least at first.” The practice of bullying breaks down into
the following four categories:
Verbal abuse
Physical abuse
Intimidation
Cyber bullying
(also phone)
most widespread; about 46% of all school bullying
most dangerous because (1) bullies can remain
unknown and (2) it can reach the widest audience.
As we watch the screening today, note an example of each type (5 points each):
Verbal
Physical
Intimidation
Cyber/Phone
Bully Traits:

Feeling of power

Feeling of fitting in

Spreading fear to gain respect
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Friends are friends only to escape bullying

High self-esteem prays of low self-esteem of others

Sense of entitlement
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Lack of compassion, impulse control and social skills
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Tend to be more serious about unimportant things

Dominant behavior

Blame others for all the bad in their lives

Attention seekers

Parents may also fear their bullying children

Parental discipline is weak and/or inconsistent
Victims Traits:

Bullied because of their achievements

Have a small circle of friends

Tend to be more serious about important things in life like school & work

Small circle of friends

What friends they have won’t stick up for them

They won’t stick up for themselves

Low self-esteem

There’s something different about them
Effects of Bullying:

Physical suffering

Academic suffering

Psychological suffering

Further alienation as friends don’t help

Victim turns into a bully
Day 1 Screening
(Short Answers – 5 Points Each)
1. Name 3 obstacles Cady has to overcome on her first day of class?
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2. Why do Damian and Janis befriend Cady?
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3. Why do the “Plastics,” Regina, Gretchen, and Karen befriend Cady?
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4. Why do you think Cady goes along with Damian and Janis, and their wish to spy on
the Plastics?
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5. Why do you think Cady goes along with the Plastics before she agrees to spy on them
for Janis and Damian?
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6. Why can’t Cady date Aaron?
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7. At the mall, Regina calls Jason’s new girlfriend’s mom and poses as a Planned
Parenthood worker with her daughter’s pregnancy results. What is the difference
between Cady’s reaction and that of the Plastics?
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8. How does Regina’s mom act as an enabler of Regina’s behavior?
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9. How are Cady’s secrets treated by her friends?
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10. At the costume party, why do you think Regina stabs Cady in the back with regard to
Aaron?
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Screenwriters choose their characters’ names carefully and Tina Fey is no exception.
The protagonist’s name, Cady, played by Lindsay Lohan, means pure. The antagonist’s
name, Regina, played by Rachel McAdams, means queen. (15 points each)
I. In today’s screening, how does Cady’s character reflect the meaning of her name?
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II. In today’s screening, how does Regina’s character reflect the meaning of her name?
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