Hundreds of thousands of teens are bullied every day. Bullying has everyone worried, not just the kids on its receiving end. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don’t always see it, they may not understand how extreme bullying can be.
Bullying Is a Big Deal
Bullying is when a person is picked on over and over again by an individual or group with more power, either in terms of physical strength or social standing. Two of the main reasons people are bullied are because of appearance and social status. Bullies pick on the kids they think don’t fit in, maybe because of how they look, how they act (for example, kids who are shy and withdrawn), their race or religion, or because the bullies think their target may be gay or lesbian.
Bullies attack their targets physically, which can mean anything from shoving or tripping to punching or hitting or even sexual assault. Others use psychological control or verbal insults to put themselves in charge. For example, people in popular groups or cliques often bully people they categorize as different by excluding them or gossiping about them (psychological bullying). They may also taunt or tease their targets (verbal bullying). Verbal bullying can also involve sending cruel instant or email messages or even posting insults about a person on a website – practices that are known as cyberbullying
One of the most painful aspects of bullying is its relentlessness. The seemingly never-ending nature of bullying can put a person in a state of constant fear, and guys and girls who are bullied may find their schoolwork and health suffering. Studies show that people who are abused by their peers are at risk for mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety.
Bullies are at risk for problems, too. Bullying is violence, and it often leads to more violent behavior as the bully grows up. As many as one out of four elementary school bullies have a criminal record by the time they are 30. Some teen bullies end up being rejected by their peers and lose friendships as they grow older. Bullies may also fail in school and not have the career or relationship success that other people enjoy.
Editors note: We have been subject to such bullying. This is happening here in Rhinebeck.
A big thanks to Rhinebeck Schools for looking into this.
To be continued…
