Identity & Bullying
According to a study on bullying, most bullying happens in or close to the school building (British Columbia Ministry of Education, 2000). Since school is a time where students begin to learn who they are and place a high value on being accepted, an individual's identity is an important factor in the student's life and directly related to issues of bullying. Student identity is a very important part of developing a sense of belonging and self work alongside an inner confidence in who they are as a person. Therefore due to all students seeking to be accepted and encouraged during such an important time period of their identity formation, it is understandable how acts of bullying whether physical, verbal, or social have such a negative impact on their life during this time period. In fact, sometimes these cases of bullying become so severe that student depression results in cutting and even in the worst of situations, suicide.
Identity Based Bullying
Identity-based bullying refers to any form of bullying that attacks characteristics that are considered unique to the child's identity. These characteristics may include but are not limited to the child's race, religion, sexual orientation or physical appearance. It is assumed that this form of bullying is not targeting only the individual but rather holds deeper connotations around stereotyping and reflects negative attitudes toward a wider sub community or group in which the particular individual being bullied closely identifies with.
For more information on identity-based bullying read the thorough study from the University of London on this subject: "Prevention and response to identity-based bullying among local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales."
For more information on identity-based bullying read the thorough study from the University of London on this subject: "Prevention and response to identity-based bullying among local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales."
The Tragic Case that resulted in Amanda Todd's Suicide
The caption in the corresponding picture explains that cyber bullying can result in the death of others. In some very sad and extreme cases this is in fact true. For Amanda Todd, who really only wanted to be accepted and feel like she belonged and was loved by others, the harsh reality of her being cyber bullied, physically bullied, verbally bullied, and socially bullied resulted in her tragic suicide. Her story of various forms of bullying is a very sad one but one that actually did happen and that should awaken a response from both students and teachers. In fact, her death has created a response across North America and students and teachers have responded to her suicide by speaking out about it. But words and the awareness that the way she was treated was wrong is only the first step. This very sad example of the devastating results of bullying needs to be a catalyst that inspires students and teacher across the world to get involved and create a culture where students feel they can speak up if they are bullied and where students stand up for their peers who are being bullied.
For more on this tragic story click here for Amanda Todd's horrific experience being explained in her own words in a video post.
For more on this tragic story click here for Amanda Todd's horrific experience being explained in her own words in a video post.