Bullying Basics

By Janine

The Violence and Violence Prevention Survey on this website asked people to identify the top three types of violence they are most concerned about. It turns out that bullying (57.8%) was only second to gang violence (89.7%). If adding cyber-bulling (16.4%) into the mix, it’s 74.2% (as of April 29, 2009).

WOW. It seems this age-old form of violence has not lost its appeal.

I remember bullies at school. The boy bullies would steal, punch, kick and degrade other boys, while the girl bullies were, from my perspective, master manipulators and capable of ruining anyone for years, perhaps a lifetime. I’ve also come across a few workplace bullies – you don’t see the physical violence, but the “punches” that are thrown are just as damaging.

There’s no question that over the last decade there has been an increased focus on bullying, especially in schools, but it seems – based on concerns identified – that bullying, like a mutating virus, remains difficult to expunge.

So bullying must be a symptom of a bigger issue… violence in the home, child abuse, neglect…

My conclusion (for now): all things – good and bad – start at home.

And if that’s truly the case we’re going to need more than a magic pill.


Join the discussion about this story at http://www.connect2endviolence.ca/GetInvolved/tabid/56/EntryId/21/Bullying-Basics.aspx.