Why Are Girls More Likely to Be Victims of Violence?

This: a school shooting happens, and the shooter is a teenage girl. It's a rare event, but it happened. We know men commit more violent crimes, but girls are more likely to be victims. Let's dig into why. In 2022, girls experienced over half of all violent crimes in the US. That's a 24% increase from 1993. Boys' crime rates dropped by 16% in the same period. Why is that? Girls who are victims of crime, especially sexual abuse, often end up in trouble with the law. It's not an excuse, but it explains why we need to prevent these traumas. Schools and families need help, but we often miss the mark. Instead of funding early interventions, we put guns in teachers' hands and beef up school security. But do these tactics work? Not really. Early help does. Trauma can change a girl's brain. It can make her age faster in areas linked to emotions. This might explain why girls with PTSD can have early puberty. And they often struggle with mood swings and emotional control. To stop girls from turning to violence, we need to understand their unique risks. We can't just use the same strategies for boys. We need tailored help that fits their needs.