Circle of Respect Book Club Marks Launch of New Anti-bullying Campaign

The Circle of Respect Book Club will feature prominent authors who will speak out about different aspects of bullying and cyberbullying.

By Robin Warren, NCPC Staff

NCPC’s new Circle of Respect campaign is being launched this month. This ambitious new initiative will target the root cause of bullying and cyberbullying by creating a nationwide movement that will fundamentally change the way people, particularly young people, view this harmful behavior.

One important aspect of the Circle of Respect initiative is to build awareness of this destructive behavior among children, parents, teachers, and others in American society. To help advance its goal, NCPC is hosting an online Circle of Respect Book Club to generate a guided national discussion about this issue. The Book Club will feature one book each month on the Circle of Respect’s website by a noted author in the field of bullying and cyberbullying. Each author will also lead an in-depth discussion via a downloadable video-podcast.

Leading off the Circle of Respect Book Club is the new version of Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World by Rosalind Wiseman. This book, as described by Ms. Wiseman, explores

• The different roles girls play in and outside of cliques as Queen Bees, targets, and bystanders, and how this defines how they and others are treated
• Girls’ power plays—from the unexplained silent treatment to birthday invitations
• How the experiences of early adolescence impact girls’ future relationships and success
• Where boys fit into the equation of girl conflicts and how the “rules” of Boy World are equally constraining
• Checking baggage—recognizing how your experiences impact the way parents can be sanely involved in their daughter’s difficult, yet common social conflicts

This new version of the book includes a special chapter for parents of younger girls, insights on how technology has impacted Girl World, and is infused with new opinions and experiences of girls, boys, and parents.

Other noted authors participating in the Circle of Respect Book Club are Dr. William Pollack, Dr. Michael Thompson, Rachel Simmons, Sharon Flake, Dr. Sameer Hinduja, and Amy Koss. More information on the Circle of Respect Book Club and other ways to participate in the Circle of Respect campaign are featured on the campaign’s website.