Violence at Columbine High School

Violence at Columbine High School

The events that happened in Littleton, Colorado at Columbine High School in

April were tragic. No one will nor should attempt to defend the actions of the two

gunmen, but it is beneficial to look into the reasons that this did occur as a preventive

measure of sorts.

Simply looking back over the past few years of teenage violence a picture become

clear of who the aggressors are : white males. There is definitely a strong relationship

between the violence of late and gender. Better stated, the socialization of white males in

contemporary American society has absolutely lead to the rash of tragic, violent outbursts

in our school systems.

The mechanisms of socialization utilize childrens toys as a “teaching” tool. There

is a noted breakdown amoung the genders on the toy front. Toys geared towards females

are softer and lead to a calmer climate of civility by their mere nature : dolls to play house

with, Barbie’s to dress up, Easy-Bake ovens to cook with, the list is endless. Toys geared

towards males are rougher and create a climate of more agressive playing by their mere

nature: guns to shoot each other with, plastic action figures to wage battles with, again the

list is endless. “Comparison shop” down any store’s toy aisle and the gender gap becomes

all too clear. What is to be learned from the great toy divide? If males are encouraged to

play in a manner that is aggressive and ulimately violent, is it, then, not expected for them

to grow up to be agressive and violent.

According to Esterchild (Jan 28,1999), the expectations for masculinity include,

but are not limited to, the belief in the unflappable strength of the male and his absolute

aversion t...

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.... I deduce this

through my experiences in high school and the exchanges I witnessed between the athletes

at my school and those they considered different.) The only solution, it would seem,

would be violence, and males are predispose to acts of violence.

At this time, I would like to discuss why some choose violence and some do not.

It is a cumlination of outside affects such as parental influence, econimic situation, peer

group, religiousity and personal diposition. Each situation is different. Each person is

different. The influences that they have and their individual morality may lead them down

different paths.

These specific perpetrators had the background and framework that made violence

seem like the most obvious option. Their gender sealed their fate. For them, their

takeover of the high school, was a “natural” choice of retaliation.