School Bullying - Are There Consequences?

A school in Nova Scotia, Canada, had an incident that brought a lot of attention to bullying in schools. Students from two high schools requested their students to wear a pink shirt to school. This was to show support for a pupil who had been been bullied for wearing pink coloured clothing. Much media attention was focussed on this event from countries from around the globe. This news coverage highlighting that school bullying affects many students and is an unacceptable practice that solutions need to be found for.

Bullying

Bullying is a form of harassment perpetrated by an attacker to gain physical and/or social power and dominance over their victim. A bully aims to harm their target through verbal harassment, physical abuse, emotional blackmail, or other more subtle methods of coercion such as manipulation.

Bullying exists where social interactions are present. For example, this may include places such as schools, workplaces, within the home or in your neighborhood. Bullying can occur between different social groups, social classes and even between countries. Like other forms of abusive conduct, bullying is a repetitive act done to gain power or control over another person.

In general, harassment is classified into two types. Firstly, direct bullying. This includes physical violence such as pushing and poking, throwing, slapping, choking, punching, kicking, and beating. Secondly, indirectly bullying. This is also known as social aggression which forces the victim to go into social isolation. This type of bullying is usually done by spreading rumors about the victim, refusing to socialize with the victim, ridiculing the victim in front of other people, and through manipulation.

Why do bullies act the way they do? Some studies have shown that some people become bullies so that they will be considered popular or to attract attention. Bullies can also bully someone because they are jealous of the victim or because they have been bullied. Some abusers come from a family where violence is commonplace at home or in their neighborhood.

After effects of bullying

Being constantly subjected to bullying can cause a person to develop an inferiority complex. An inferiority complex, as the terminology suggests, is a feeling of being inferior to others in one way or another. If a victim is constantly being negatively criticized by the thugs they may start believing the lies. Victims may also be more likely to develop mental illness relating to the stress that bullying has caused them. For example, they may develop an anxiety and/or depressive type disorder as an after effect of being bullied.

How can we deal with bullying?

Victims should always keep in mind that they are not the problem, the bullies are. Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure. If you are experiencing bullying it is important not to feel ashamed and to stay strong. It can help to feel safer if you are with a group of others who do not support bullies as bullies generally prefer to bully those who are on their own. There is always strength in numbers. You can choose to ignore the bully, tell them to stop harassing you, and walk away. If these tips do not work, talk to someone you trust.