Mean Girls Society and Class

In Mean Girls' North Shore cafeteria, it's eat or be eaten—and we're not just talking about the mashed potatoes. There's a well-defined social order, with rules both spoken and unspoken, and cliques at every turn.

At the tippity-top, we have The Plastics. At the bottom, new kids like Cady. The higher up the hierarchy you are, the more clout you have—and with great power comes great weekend plans, cool clothes, and almost zero personal accountability.

Questions About Society and Class

1. How does the class system at North Shore high school mirror the real world? How is it different?
2. What role does gossip play in a social hierarchy?
3. How would you describe the social order at your high school? Can you map it out like Janis did for Cady?

Chew on This

As a new student—both to North Shore and to American public schooling—Cady is in a unique position that allows her to subvert the North Shore social order in a way that her classmates have been unable or unwilling to before.

In the high school setting, female social circles are both more powerful and more vicious than male ones.