Bullies
By Dana Perry
What is bullying?
Middle school and high school are filled with new and different experiences, teachers, homework and friends. Most girls believe that 'getting along with your friends' is of great importance, as 61 percent are concerned 'a lot' about this very thing.1 Sometimes, not 'getting along' can cause a huge amount of stress in a teenager's life.
Bullying is when one person in a peer group puts forth power and force over another person. Bullies come in all shapes and sizes and can act in a number of ways. A bully can be physically violent by pushing or shoving, or verbally violent by making threats to harm someone. Some bullies steal or break other's belongings. Bullies can also make fun of the way people look, act or talk.2 For girls, the most common form of bullying is not physically violent at all, but usually consists of spreading rumors or gossiping.3 However it is done, a bully's main intent is to harm another person either physically or emotionally.
How often does it happen?
If you've seen bullying occur, you're not alone. Over fifty percent of kids aged 12-15 believe that violence is a 'big problem' for people their age. Almost 70 percent believe that teasing and bullying is a 'big problem' in their school.4 Two thirds of young people have been teased or gossiped about in a mean way at least once in the past month and one-fourth have had this experience five times or more.5 For most kids and teenagers, bullying will be an issue at some point in their lives.
How does it happen?
There are three groups of people in a cycle of bullying. There is the person doing the bullying, the person being bullied, and those who see the bullying event occur.2 Approximately 30 percent of teens are involved in bullying at any point in time, either as a target, a bully, or perhaps both.6 The role a person plays in this cycle can change, as someone can be a target one day and a bully the next. Because of this, it is important to recognize bullying as something people do, not who they are.2 Bullying is different from an occasional fight or blow-up between friends. It does not happen as a 'one-time' deal, it happens again and again, over a long period of time.2 Sometimes it gets so bad that it can result in school violence.
How can I stop it?
As you probably know, bullying is a difficult thing to stop. When bullying behavior becomes extreme or violent, it needs to be addressed by an adult. Legally, every child has the right to an education and every child has the right to be safe.7 If a bully destroys personal property or physically attacks someone, it is against the law.6 Unfortunately, even though it is illegal, over 88 percent of this type of behavior is not reported to the police.8 Above all, it is important to realize that no one has the right to make someone else feel powerless or unsafe. If you think you may be part of a cycle of violence, it is important to tell someone. If you feel comfortable, share your worries with a close family member such as a parent or older sister. A school counselor, teacher, social worker, Girl Scout volunteer or other trusted adult may also be able to help you. Free hotlines and Web sites that may be helpful are listed below.
By phone: - National Youth Violence Preventions Information
1-866-723-3968; 1-866-SAFEYOUTH (only available 8am-6pm eastern time)
- National Youth Crisis Hotline
1-800-442-4673; 1-800-442-HOPE
- Child-Help USA
1-800-422-4453
- National Center for Victims of Crime
1-800-FYI-CALL; 1-800-394-2255
On the Web:
Younger girls:
www.bam.gov
www.kidshealth.org
pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/
Older Girls
www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens.asp
www.cooolnurse.com
www.teenshealth.org
1 The New Normal? What Girls say about Healthy Living. 2006. Girl Scouts Research Institute. Girl Scouts USA
2 Bullying Behaviors Among Children And Adolescents (A-02), June, 2002. Report of the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs.
3 Bullying Facts and Statistics, National Youth Violence Prevention, www.safeyouth.org
4 Talking With Kids About Tough Issues: A National Survey of Parents and Kids. 2001. Nickelodeon and Talking With Kids
5 Youth & Violence: Students Speak Out for A More Civil Society, The Colorado Trust and Families and Work Institute, 2002
6 Bullying and Harassment. 2007. The National Center for Victims of Crime, www.ncvc.org
7 www.bullybeware.com
8 National Center for Education Statistics, 2002
Dana Perry interned for GSUSA during summer 2007. She previously worked as an Outreach Specialist for high-risk youth at Girl Scouts - Pacific Peaks Council in DuPont, Wash.
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