this person, especially at such a young age. What makes a kid crave recognition and
acceptance so much that manipulation becomes a key weapon? Is it insecurity? Is it the
product of poor parenting? I very much pity the leaders of cliques in the sense that they
feel the need to attract attention in extremities. It leads me to think that their life at home
is rough. I am not justifying their actions, I am only trying to put myself in their shoes to
fully understand all perspectives. If their life at home is not rough, is the kid spoiled? Is
the kid from a middle class family but have parents who work too much or not at all?
Does the kid simply have a mean streak? I think most kids submit to the leader because
they want to avoid humiliation, or simply because they are expected to conform. Karin
A. Martin’s article, “Normalizing Heterosecuality”, explains how kids participate in
heteronormative behaviors because it’s expected of them. Their thoughts on
heterosexuality are constructed by their parents influence and how it’s perceived
through their peers. This is in relation to “Peer Power” because kids choose to conform
with their peers because it’s expected of them.
