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That, or the fact that some other girl is an annoying sight.
Still, when it comes to giving a good bashing, they don't think twice, and they definitely don't hold back.
'I never thought if I might actually kill someone,' admitted one former girl gangster who was recruited at the age of 15. 'If you're going to whack someone, what's the point of watching out for her head or face?'
The teen girls who rained punches and kicks on their young victims - for as long as it took for a cigarette to burn out - in two separate court cases recently, probably felt the same.
One group was punishing a girl who had given a condom to a gang member's boyfriend. The other group attacked a 14-year-old boy for wanting to leave the gang.
The cigarette practice, by the way, is commonly used to time beatings by gangs. A preferred choice over a joss stick, which takes too long to burn out, gang members say they deliberately take their time puffing their cigarettes to extend the victim's agony. The more vicious ones may even stub them out on their victim's arms or legs when they are done.
But these are no isolated cases of girls behaving badly. Although police statistics show the number of girls aged between seven and 19 arrested for serious hurt and rioting offences have gone down from 94 in 2004 to 54 last year, youth counsellors say they have seen more girls getting into trouble these days.
Five years ago, Teen Challenge senior counsellor Joyce Chan received calls mostly from parents concerned about their sons. But this year alone, she has seen close to seven cases of girls referred by their parents to the youth welfare organisation for counselling.
Under the Penal Code, the punishment for rioting is a maximum of five years in jail and seven years if a deadly weapon is used.
Social workers have also seen more girls getting themselves involved in street corner gangs, most of which are groups of mixed gender.
Dr Carol Balhetchet, director of youth services at the Singapore Children's Society, said while these girls used to be just the girlfriends of gangsters, they are now gang members themselves.
These neighbourhood gangs are unlike organised secret society groups. Unstructured and likely to number no more than 20 or 30, members stake out void decks, parks, malls and coffee shops, declaring the area theirs and 'protecting' it from other gangs.
Each gang has a leader although some gangs may be part of a bigger group or may claim to have links to real secret societies.
Mr Md Yusof Ismail, chief executive of Ain Society, a voluntary welfare organisation which works with youths at risk, said all-girl gangs affiliated to boy gangs started emerging in the late 90s, but have since fizzled out or merged to form unisex gangs.
'What is sad is some of these girls join for protection but end up being abused financially or sexually because they have to serve the gang members,' he said.
Some members have to pay monthly protection fees of between $10 and $20, said private investigator and former police officer Lionel De Souza.
Even so, girls are still being lured into gangs - and they are getting younger, and bolder.
Mrs Michelle Wong, assistant director at the Andrew and Grace Home, a residence for troubled teens, said girls as young as 11 are being recruited in schools.
Discipline masters at two neighbourhood secondary schools say because punishment meted out to girls are less harsh than for boys - who may be subjected to public caning - female students are less afraid of getting into trouble.
Some would skip classes, hurl abuse at teachers, even fight or smoke in the toilets. Shoplifting, theft and rioting are what eventually land them in the courts.
'They are more defiant compared to a few years ago,' said one discipline master, who declined to be named. 'But our hands are tied.'
Counsellors say there is no typical profile of these girls - they don't necessarily come from dysfunctional families, nor are they all latchkey kids.
But girls join gangs for the same reasons that boys do: to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. There is a sense of power that comes with feeling protected too. 'The majority of teens do struggle with a certain level of lack of confidence. And gangs will boost their self-esteem,' said Teen Challenge's Ms Chan.
Greater sexual equality in society has also filtered down to the underworld, which may explain why there seems to be more girl gangsters now, with some rising to become gang leaders. 'Our environment is producing this competition. The only way for them to be visible is to be just as daring as the boys,' said Dr Balhetchet.
But some don't realise gangs have agenda - they rope in youths to sell contraband cigarettes or VCDs or just to plump up their numbers, said Dr Balhetchet.
And once in, leaving will be tough. 'Traitors' have to endure beatings and other challenges before they are set free. Some girls even have to survive 'rolling' - sex with all the male members - for a ticket out.
Mr Abdul Halim Kadir, president of Taman Bacaan Female Halfway House and Family Service Centre, said the gang problem shouldn't be left to just the police. Schools should continue preventive education like give talks on gangsterism.
But even when a mistake has been made, kids should have a way out.
Mr Gerard Ee, executive director of Beyond Social Services, argues that Singapore's approach to these wayward teens - where those charged could be detained in institutions - may be too punitive.
'Growing up in institutional care during the formative years may not be good for them,' he said. 'Throwing someone in jail will not make her remorseful, but fearful.'
Additional reporting by Mavis Toh
A way to stand out
'Our environment is producing this competition. The only way for them to be visible is to be just as daring as the boys.'
DR CAROL BALHETCHET, director of youth services at the Singapore Children's Society, on why more girls are behaving badly
