There's victimization and then there's, apparently, indirect victimization. Even the most popular girl in school can be a victim of indirect victimization, according to University of Alberta Educational Psychology PhD student Lindsey Leenaars and colleagues, especially if indirect victimization includes receiving anonymous notes that make fun of them, being socially excluded by some group or having rumors spread about them. In other words, indirect victimization happens to everyone in high school. Leenaars took data from questionnaires filled out in 2003 by some 2,300 students (ages 12–18) in Ontario. The anonymous questionnaire included questions about their attractiveness, their sexual activity, their friendships and school social problems. Leenaars found that females who viewed themselves as attractive had a 35 percent increased chance of considering themselves indirectly victimized. Males who viewed themselves as attractive felt indirectly victimized by 25 percent less. It may also be that teenage males are not drama queens the way teenage females are. I saw "Mean Girls." I know what goes on out there. The researchers say this information could be used to raise awareness among parents, teachers and counselors and could insute that anti-bullying programs include all students, not just those who may be traditionally perceived as victims. So, ugly girls, try being nicer to those prom queens out there. They have feelings too. Funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Article: Lindsey S. Leenaars, Andrew V. Dane, Zopito A. Marini, 'Evolutionary perspective on indirect victimization in adolescence: the role of attractiveness, dating and sexual behavior', Aggressive Behavior Published Online: 19 Mar 2008 DOI 10.1002/ab.20252