“Girlhood is often marred by schoolgirl cruelty, a grim rite of passage in which parents sometimes cruelly collude. Mothers and fathers must take a stand against petty or protracted hostility between girls.”

American author

Rachel Simmons is an American author best known for Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls, published in 2002. Her work has helped bring attention to the social pressures and hidden forms of conflict that can shape girls' lives. She is associated with writing about aggression, friendship, and the ways girls navigate status and belonging. Her book remains the main work identified with her name, and it is the source of much of her public recognition.