SHAH ALAM – The tragic death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir has upended the long-standing stereotype that extreme bullying is largely a male issue, bringing attention to the growing prevalence and severity of female-led aggression.
While girls are often perceived as less aggressive, research shows they can be just as involved in bullying, particularly through relational aggression such as exclusion, public shaming and online harassment.
Universiti Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Human Ecology, Department of Social and Development Sciences senior lecturer Dr Wan Munira Wan Jaafar said in Malaysia, shifting social dynamics and the influence of digital culture have blurred gender lines, with girls increasingly participating in both verbal and physical bullying.
“Feminist sociology points out that these behaviours are shaped by social expectations and power relations.
“When young girls feel the need to assert dominance, defend status or respond to peer pressure, they can adopt behaviours traditionally associated with male aggression.
“Ignoring the reality of female-led bullying risks leaving such cases underreported and unaddressed,” she told Sinar Daily.
She added that Zara's case is a stark reminder that aggression is not defined by gender but by the environment that enables and normalises it.
“Effective bullying prevention must consider all genders and address contributing factors at home, in schools and across the wider community,” she added.
Wan Munira highlighted the most effective way to curb bullying is to address it on multiple fronts, be it at home, in schools and within the wider community.
Parents, she said, played a critical role by staying engaged in their children’s lives and modelling empathy and respect.
She said that schools must implement strong anti-bullying policies, while encouraging peer support programmes that promote kindness over cruelty.
Wan Munira emphasised that the community and religious leaders could help rebuild social bonds by creating safe spaces where youth feel supported and accountable.
“From a psychological theory of social behavioural lens, Social Learning Theory reminds us that behaviour is often imitated, so adults must demonstrate the values they want children to adopt and Control Theory emphasises the importance of strong bonds and consistent consequences to deter harmful acts.
“Tackling bullying is not just about punishing offenders; it’s about creating a culture, both online and offline, where respect is the social norm,” Munira said.
Zara Qairina was found unconscious on July 16 after reportedly falling from the third floor of her religious school dormitory at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Datuk Mustapha in Papar, Sabah.
She was pronounced dead the next day at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital (HQEI).
Her death sparked widespread public outrage, particularly on social media, amid allegations that she had been a victim of bullying at the school.