Write an essay about Bullying in schools.
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“What if the kid you bullied at school, grew up, and turned out to be the only surgeon who could save your life?” is a famous quote by Lynette Mather. Bullying is the process of commiting an evildoing against other people with malicious intent. A ccording to Menesini et al (2017), “Research on b ullying started more than 40 years ago and defined this behaviour as ‘aggressive, intentional acts carried out by a group or an individual repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself and despite some debate over the definition, most researchers agree that bullying involves the intent to harm and an imbalance of power between the aggressor and the victim, and it takes place repeatedly (p.1). B ullying is a serious offense that affects people of all ages, both adults and children. People who bully other people are called bullies. Bullies have the intent to harm their victims either physically, mentally, verbal, and emotionally. Menesini et al. (2017) also stated that Bullying involves a dynamic interaction between the perpetrator and the victim; The bully increases in power, and the victim loses power, and as a result, it is difficult for the victim to respond or to cope with the problem (p.1). Bullies are malicious and do not consider their victims. Bullying impacts the livelihood of the victims, for example, their mental health is disrupted, and they get anxiety and depression. “Imbalance of power can be derived from physical strength, social status in the group, or from group size e.g. a group targeting a single person and power may also be achieved through knowing a person’s vulnerabilities (e.g. appearance, learning problem, family situation, personal characteristics) and using this knowledge to harm him or her” (Menesini et al., 2017 p.1). “B ullying comprises verbal attacks (e.g., name calling, threats), physical behaviors (e.g. hitting, kicking, damaging victim’s property), and relational/social aggression (e.g., social exclusion, rumour spreading) up to the most recent forms of attacks through Internet and new technologies (also referred to as cyberbullying)” (Menesini et al., 2017 p.1). The victims of b ullying suffer from low self-esteem due to being picked on by their bullies, and this may cause them to have suicidal thoughts. School bullying is an issue which should be addressed in order to create a safe environment for all students.
School bullying should be addressed and discouraged. According to Maunder et al. (2018), “School bullying is an important concern” (p.1). According to Gaffney et al. (2020), “School-bullying is defined as repeated aggressive behaviors that occur between a bully (or bullies) and victim with the intention to harm, and it differs from teasing or arguments between peers because it involves interactions with a distinct power imbalance, either physical or social, between the perpetrator(s) and the victim” (p.1). According to Menesini et al. (2017), “In the school context, peer b ullying is the most common form of violence among children and youths, and it compromises children’s rights, including the right to education as requested by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (p.1). Menesini et al. (2017) also stated that “b ullying peaks during middle school years (i.e., 12–15 years) and tends to decrease by the end of high school (p.1). Menesini et al. (2017) also stated that bullying “presents special risks for vulnerable children, such as children with disabilities; refugees, or children affected by migration; children who are excluded; children who belong to a minority group, or simply children that differ from the peer group” (p.1). “A recent review reported that approximately 20–25% of youth are directly involved in bullying as perpetrators, victims, or both. Large-scale studies in Western countries suggest that 4–9% of youths frequently engage in bullying behaviors, and 9–25% of school-age children are bullied. A smaller subgroup of youth who both bully and are bullied (bully/victims) has also been identified” (Menesini et al., 2017, p.1). “In a recent meta-analysis on bullying and cyberbullying prevalence across contexts with an overall sample of 335,519 youth (12–18 years), the authors estimated a mean prevalence of 35% for traditional bullying (both perpetration and victimization roles) and 15% for cyberbullying involvement” (Menesini et al., 2017 p.1). Students should have positive role models who guide them on what to do and the decisions to make. T hus, school bullying is a growing concern, and it should be discouraged, and strategies should be developed to prevent it.
I n conclusion, bullying is a sensitive issue and should be taken seriously. Bullying limits the victim’s ability to form a healthy relationship with their selves and other people; This is because bullying instills fear and intimidation in their victims, which in turn makes them not to engage and form relationships with other people. Bullies also instill fear in their victims so that they can speak up against them and seek help. Power imbalances in institutions are the main cause of bullying, so the principle of fairness should be promoted. Race, sexual, and gender discrimination also promotes bullying, and bullying is a learnt behaviour and it can be passed from adults to children. S tudents should be educated about the negative effects of bullying and they should be encouraged to speak up in order to condemn the bullies. S tudents should also be encouraged to speak up against their bullies and they should also report the bullying instances to their teachers. There are many negative effects of bullying and therefore, people should develop strategies to combat the issue by promoting a culture of respect and unity. By uniting as a community, we can create a safe environment for everyone where bullying is not accepted.
Gaffney, H., Ttofi, M. M., & Farrington, D. P. (2021). What works in anti-bullying programs? Analysis of effective intervention components. Journal of school psychology, 85, 37-56.
Maunder, R. E., & Crafter, S. (2018). School bullying from a sociocultural perspective. Aggression and violent behavior, 38, 13-20.
Menesini, E., & Salmivalli, C. (2017). Bullying in schools: the state of knowledge and effective interventions. Psychology, health & medicine, 22(sup1), 240-253.