Bullying
Something needs to change
The Definition
Bullying is the use of force to abuse or intimidate others. This behavior can be habitual and involve an imbalance of social or physical power. It can include verbal harassment or threat, physical assault and may be directed repeatedly towards particular victims, perhaps on the grounds of race, religion, gender, sexuality, or ability. The victim of bullying is sometimes referred to as a "target" or “victim”.
Bullying Basics
Bullying happens in many different forms. It's doing, saying or acting in a way that hurts someone else or makes him or her feel bad on purpose. Some kinds of bullying are:
-Verbal (name-calling)
-Phyical (punching, pushing)
-Social (leaving someone out of a game or group on purpose)
-Extortion (stealing someone's money or toys)
-Cyberbullying (using computers, the Internet, mobile phones, etc.)
Words Hurt
Being called names can hurt someone else's feelings really badly. All forms of bullying are harmful, but VERBAL bullying, including name-calling, happens more often than any other kind of bullying.
Bullying hurts everyone. Victims can have their feelings hurt or be injured by bullies. Other kids can feel sad or scared, even if they are just watching a bully pick on someone else. Kids who bully often grow up to become adult bullies.
Bullies come in all shapes and sizes and ages. Anyone can be a bully - even you. Kids usually become bullies because they are unhappy inside for some reason or don't know how to get along with other kids.
Fact: Bullying happens to someone in Canada every 7 minutes on the playground.
Fact: Other kids are watching 85% of the time when one kid bullies another kid. Adults like teachers or parents hardly ever see a bully being mean to someone else.
The Facts
A study on bullying by the University of British Columbia, based on 490 students (half female, half male) in Grades 8-10 in a B.C. city in the winter of 1999, showed:
- 64 per cent of kids had been bullied at school.
- 12 per cent were bullied regularly (once or more a week).
- 13 per cent bullied other students regularly (once or more a week).
- 72 per cent observed bullying at school at least once in a while.
- 40 per cent tried to intervene.
- 64 per cent considered bullying a normal part of school life.
- 20-50 per cent said bullying can be a good thing (makes people tougher, is a good way to solve problems, etc.).
- 25-33 per cent said bullying is sometimes OK and/or that it is OK to pick on losers.
- 61-80 per cent said bullies are often popular and enjoy high status among their peers.