Generations after generations are falling victim to bullying. It is an issue found everywhere around the globe and throughout history. Instead of being a sanctuary place where students learn and evolve both academically and socially, for some, schools are quite the opposite. Moreover, the issue is increasing since studies have now revealed that violence and bullying are affecting one in three students.
A global problem
The UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has said in a statement that “Recent attacks on schools in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Pakistan, and the assassination of teacher Samuel Paty in France, sadly underscore the critical issue of protecting our schools from all forms of violence”.
He also added that though bullying causes “physical and emotional suffering on millions of children around the world,” the issue is often “neglected, minimized or ignored”. Moreover, because of the enormous scale of the problem, Ms. Azoulay urged on the need to raise global awareness and put a stop to this crisis. “As students, parents, members of the educational community and ordinary citizens, we have all a part to play in stopping violence and bullying in schools”.
The rise of Cyberbullying
With the ongoing pandemic, the need to create a safe online environment is more necessary than ever. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Thus, as students are “living, learning and socializing online”, all forms of cyberbullying are increasing. Moreover, the coronavirus has created an “unprecedented increase in screen time and the merging of online and offline worlds”. Therefore, the youth are now most vulnerable to bullying and cyberbullying.
Furthermore, though most bullying is carried by the students’ peers, teachers, and other school staff, as well as strangers can be responsible.
forms of bullying
In almost all the regions of the world, physical forms of bullying are most prominent. Even though physical violence affects all students, boys are often more target for this kind of bullying.
However, in North America and Europe, psychological bullying is the most common kind. In addition, while physical abuse increases with boy groups, psychological abuse thrives among girl groups. Psychological abuse includes “isolating, rejecting, ignoring, insults, spreading rumors, making up lies, name-calling, ridicule, humiliation, and threats”.
Girls are the most vulnerable to sexual bullying, but boys also encounter this kind of bullying. Furthermore, it is the second most common form of harassment at almost all schools. It can vary from being hostile sexual jokes, comments, or gestures to far more drastic offenses.
Students have reported that a person’s physical appearance is the most common cause of bullying. Then, it is followed by their race, nationality, or skin color.
Long-lasting effects
Bullying is a disease that leaves a long-lasting mark on students. It doesn’t only cause depression and anxiety, but also insomnia and anaroxia. Reports also prove that bullied students have a higher rate of dropping out of school along with lower academic achievement. Furthermore, students who experience bullying are twice likely to experience negative health effects such as headaches and stomachaches
Moreover, there is a strong association between bullying and suicide-related behaviors. Students who are bullied on a frequent basis are at increased risk for suicide-related behavior. On a more alarming note, normalizing or romancing the false notion that suicide can be an answer for bullying can create copycat behavior among youth.
References:
11 Facts About Bullying. (n.d.). DoSomething.Org. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-bullyingBullying Epidemic: Facts, Statistics, and Prevention. (n.d.). Education Corner. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.educationcorner.com/bullying-facts-statistics-and-prevention.htmlBullying Statistics. (n.d.). National Bullying Prevention Center. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/stats.aspViolence and bullying, affect one in three students, education experts. (2020, November 9). UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/11/1076932
