Peer pressure is the influence that members of your peer group have on you and your your actions. Who pressures and who is pressured may depend on a social hierarchy of adolescents. This level of status is more evident in groups, or cliques, of adolescent girls than in groups of adolescent boys. In her article “The Queen Bee and Her Court,” Rosalind Wiseman discusses these social statuses and their relationship to peer pressure. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The queen bee is the highest person on the totem pole and has the most power and influence over her peers. In his article, Wiseman says, “Through a combination of charisma, strength, money, looks, will, and manipulation, this girl reigns supreme over other girls…” (P. 346). He is in control of every situation. Of all the members of the clique, she is the one most likely to push her friends and classmates to do things they wouldn't normally do. She is also the most successful at pressuring them due to her status and power. Another power role discussed in the article is that of the banker. This individual does not stay with one group but rather wanders from clique to clique gathering information from different people. She likes to be the person who knows everyone's secrets. This knowledge is where he tends to get his power. While these roles may imply that any role or situation that may involve peer pressure is negative, there can be positive effects from both. For example, you should not assume that a girl in the Float position is a negative influence. This role is similar to that of the Banker in that they both drift between groups, however the Float does not gather information for his own gain. She is not limited to a social standard and is generally friends with everyone, regardless of clique. Some positive repercussions of being a Floater are: “Her peers appreciate her for who she is as a person. She is less likely to sacrifice herself to obtain and maintain social status." (Wiseman, P. 351) Even the queen bee could have favorable outcomes if she uses her influence constructively. He can choose to create conflict or unity with his peers. Instead of excluding people from his group, he could encourage his friends to include others. Furthermore, if he regularly monitors the decisions of the group as a whole, he may direct them to make good rather than destructive decisions. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Personalize EssayThe overall effect that a teenager's social status has on her daily life depends on the peers around her. Chances are, if he sees positive decisions, he will follow that standard. The same goes for bad decisions. The people in power are the ones who set the standards for the general behavior of their peers. As you decide where you stand on the social ladder, carefully consider your role and how you are influencing those around you.