Bullying: The Fight for Rights
By: Julia and Julia
What is Bullying?
Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumours, hurting someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. Bullying is an imbalance of power.
For example: John likes wearing overalls and kids talk behind his back and tease him because of this. John is being bullied.
Why is bullying wrong?
Bullying can put a person in constant fear. These people may start seeing their grades plummet or their health suffering. Studies show that people who are bullied can get mental health problems, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and many other bad things that people should not be dealing with.
Who can be involved in bullying?
What are the different types of bullying?
- Verbal Bullying- Teasing, name-calling, taunting, threatening to cause them harm.
- Social Bullying- Leaving someone out of a group or conversion on purpose, telling other peers not to be friends with that person, spreading rumours and saying mean or rude remarks or making rude hand gestures.
- Physical Bullying- Hitting, kicking, pinching, pushing, spitting, tripping, punching and breaking personal belongings.
- Cyber Bullying- Can be used in different medias like apps, texting, etc.
Kids use the internet to bully because they hide behind things and don't need to talk face to face. It's also easier to bully on the web because rumours and inappropriate behaviour can travel faster and get to other people quicker.
Why is being a bully bad?
How Can we stop Bullying?
- Walking with the target in unobserved areas
- You can talk or leave a note in the bully’s locker explaining how you feel
- Joining an anti-violence program or make up your own at school
- Ignore the bully and walk away
- Hold the anger
- Don’t get physical
- Practice confidence
- Take charge of your life
- Talk about it
- Find your true friends
If you are the target (person who is being picked on or bullied) and you think the bullying will start to lead into physical violence, don’t be alone. Always be with a friend or a group of friends. Walk to school together, eat together at lunch, etc., especially when the bullying is taking place.