Such stereotypes can make them more prone to drug use and more likely to either commit or fall victim to acts of violence. They were often bullied, teased and beaten. Such stereotypes expose girls to a host of dangers. The study found that from a very early age children internalize certain myths about girls and boys. "Adolescent health risks are shaped by behaviors rooted in gender roles that can be well established in kids by the time they are 10 or 11 years old," lead researcher Kristin Mmari said. "And this message is being constantly reinforced at almost every turn," Blum said. Such stereotypes expose girls to a host of dangers. "In Baltimore, girls told us their primary asset was their bodies and that they need to look appealing but not too appealing," Mmari said. Its results suggest that vast amounts of money are wasted on stereotype prevention programs for teenagers because efforts must begin far earlier. "In Baltimore, girls told us their primary asset was their bodies and that they need to look appealing but not too appealing," Mmari said. Children early on believe girls are weak and helpless, while boys are "strong and independent," researcher Robert Blum said. They "leave girls at greater risk of dropping out of school or suffering physical and sexual violence, child marriage, early pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections," the report said. Researchers found that gender stereotypes that emphasize female passivity can encourage abuse. "Boys who challenge gender norms by their dress or behavior were by many respondents seen as socially inferior," the report said. Such stereotypes can make them more prone to drug use and more likely to either commit or fall victim to acts of violence.