The Royal Gazette’s thought-provoking series on female teen violence, which concluded yesterday, gives some of the causes of the apparent outbreak in violence and some of the solutions.

Some of the people who have been closely involved with counselling the attackers and victims of the assaults note that the increase may not be as dramatic as it appears at first glance. But they do note that if there has been an increase, it is in part a side effect of the reduction in gender discrimination. As men and women are increasingly treated equally, so women mirror men’s behaviour as they learn to be more assertive.

It may also be that the number of dangerous weapons in the community has also increased, meaning that when violence breaks out, whether it involves men or women, young or old, it is more likely that serious injuries will result. Thus, violent crimes which would once have been settled with fists and are now settled with knives or even guns.

Several of the counsellors have argued that traditional punishments, including incarceration, are not the answer. Those kinds of punishment may get people off the street, but they will not solve the problem and they may make it worse. The Centre for Community and Family Mediation member Sheelagh Cooper said in Monday’s article that incarcerating people only teaches them to be better criminals.

Young people in particular would benefit from counselling first with incarceration only being used as a last resort. As one reformed attacker who spoke to The Royal Gazette <$>said, it was only when she learned to express herself and not to bottle up her anger that she learned to avoid fights. It is unlikely that she would have learned those lessons in prison.

There is also merit in the idea that young people learn to mimic behaviour that they see in their everyday lives. Violence in the media, arguments and abuse in the home, and even violent verbal attacks in the House of Assembly may give children the idea that this behaviour is acceptable. Parents, teachers, the media and community leaders all have a responsibility to show that an increase in constructive dialogue and a reduction in hysterical behaviour can help to build a better society and to raise levels of behaviour among the young.

There is always the risk that such behaviour will lead to dishonesty; to say that things are not as bad as they are is as bad as saying that they are worse.

Dealing with violence honestly and firmly is important. The traditional knee-jerk liberal reaction — Johnny or Jane hit the person because he or she had a terrible upbringing — is not enough. Making it clear that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable in a civilised society has to be the first step, followed by dealing with the causes.

For the young in particular, it is important that rules of behaviour are set down, understood and enforced. But this can be done with understanding and care as opposed to simply being punitive and not dealing with the causes.