Although "mean girls" have received constant attention from the media in recent years, violence among young girls isn't more prevalent.

"If you pull back the veil on some of that data, it doesn't look like it's really increasing," said James M. Frabutt, a faculty member in the Alliance for Catholic Education Leadership Program at Notre Dame, who presented "Lost Innocence? Girls, Aggression and Violence" Thursday at Illinois Valley Community College.

Frabutt said the media often sensationalizes violence among young girls in the media and through books.

"If you went by books and media, you would say we have an emerging problem," he said during the presentation sponsored by IVCC's Psychology Club.

Frabutt, a concurrent associate professor of psychology, also pointed out although the problem may not be rapidly growing, it is still present.

He presented a Fox News clip of a 2008 story of a Florida high school student punching a 16-year-old girl that was posted to YouTube. Most in the audience had seen the incident, because it received nationwide attention. He also showed CNN coverage of the hazing at North Glenbrook High School in Northbrook.

All are examples of direct aggression, some of which has been seen in this area. In October 2007, an Ottawa High School Township student threw hot soup onto a female student at the school after a quarrel developed because the girl cut ahead in the lunch line. The victim suffered first- and second-degree burns.

There's also social aggression, which inflicts no bodily harm, but can be just as damaging. Frabutt made reference to Jesse Logan, a high school student in Cincinnati who committed suicide after her ex-boyfriend sent 100 people nude pictures of her with his phone and she was harassed at school.

Social aggression can exclude someone or ruin a reputation by gossiping or betrayal.

The stats

Statistics from U.S. Department of Justice's Juvenile Offenders and Victims 2006 national report show violence among both genders is actually decreasing. Both hit their peak in the mid-1990s, although male violence is decreasing at a more rapid rate than females.

"The gender gap is closing," he said, noting statistics aren't completely accurate, since the statistics show only reported cases.

The largest increase in violent crime is female aggravated assault, which involves a weapon and the intent to harm. In 1980, females accounted for 15 percent of the cases and the most recent statistics show females account for 25 percent. Simple assault cases, which result in no serious injury, also have increased.

The cause

Society dictates a growing trend of increased violence among young girls.

"There is some rational to media and books," Frabutt said.

Frabutt said it's caused by either a change in behavior — more stress, more messages of violence and diminished social control — or policy change — a change in the way schools and families react to them.

He's leaning toward the latter.

"What once was assault is now aggravated assault," he said.

"It's about the policy and the way we're treating them."

The response

Too often the negative is the focus instead of the positive. Students are always asked what the problem is, he said.

Students should instead be asked what they're good at or what they're proud of.

"It's sad when kids would stare at you because no one's ever asked them that," he said.

"How often do we focus on what's right?"