I don’t think that there will be enough articles and talks to exhaust the issues that arise from bullying. As statistics have shown that while over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year, Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying.
What this means is that there are quite a number of teenagers dealing with repeated intimidation, and it is safe to say that some victims of emotional bullying are unaware that they are victims.
Dear Girl, If you have ever felt a repeated, aggressive behavior intended to hurt you, physically, mentally or emotionally? You might have been a victim of bullying.
Bullying can happen, at school, in the halls, at lunch, or in the bathroom, when teachers are not there to see what is going on. When adults are not watching, on your way to or from school, on the playground, or even in the neighborhood. It could also be through social media platforms eg twitter, facebook, Instagram: through a post or a comment, e-mail or instant messaging—rumors are spread or nasty notes are sent and it usually happens when other people are watching.
Bullying can be categorized into:
- –Emotional– Bullying at this stage is not overt and can continue for a long time without being noticed.
- –Physical– Bullying that hurts someone’s body or damages their possessions. Stealing, shoving, hitting, fighting, and destroying property all fall into this category.
- –Verbal– This is the most common form of bullying. This is any bullying that is conducted by speaking. Calling names, spreading rumors, threatening somebody, and making fun of others are all forms of verbal bullying.
- –Cyberbullying– Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.
And one thing all these have in common is the use of intimidation.
How can you deal with bullies/bullying:
You need to develop confidence, do not take the option of being a victim:
- Look the bully in the eye.
- Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation.
- Walk away.
- Make friends with other children or join school activity clubs
- Ask for help from other school officials or adults
Also learn how to firmly express yourself:
- “I don’t like what you are doing.”
- “Please do NOT talk to me like that.”
- “Why would you say that?”
And where you are not a victim of bullying, make sure that you are not part of the problem or contributing to it.
And where you are the bully who derives joy from intimidating and putting other people down, now is a good time to amend your ways. Bullying hurts people, you never really know what another person is going through, do not be the reason for another’s sadness. Learn to treat others with respect especially as life has an interesting way of springing surprises. The person you bully and intimidate today might be responsible for a life changing decision some years down the line. You can convert that energy into joining school clubs like the drama unit, literary and debating society amongst others and basically improving your skills.
If you connect with this message and want to talk to an adult on this issue. Kindly send us a message on our social media pages. We will love to talk to you soon.
Pictures: http://www.google.com
Lots of Love,
Nkiru
thebigsisterinitiative.com 