Concept of the method
5. BULLYING
“Bullying is when an individual or a group of people with more power, repeatedly and intentionally cause hurt or harm to another person or group of people who feel helpless to respond. Bullying can continue over time, is often hidden from adults, and will probably continue if no action is taken”. [1]
Bullying can be:
· Physical
This form of bullying is usually visible, therefore easy to recognize.
· Verbal
Using words, either out loud or in writing, is a common type of bullying because it’s quick, often done impulsively to elicit a response.
· Sexual
Not everyone thinks of unwanted sexual contact or comments (both in-person or online) as bullying. It can include using demeaning words about someone’s gender or sexuality, spreading rumours of a sexual nature that harm a person’s reputation, unwanted and inappropriate touching or physical contact, sharing personal information about relationships, or posting inappropriate photos/material online.
· Emotional
Emotional bullying can be subtle and difficult to detect. It’s calculated and manipulative. It can be perpetuated by a single person but is most often executed by a group. Emotional bullying can be extremely damaging and traumatic.
Racist Bullying
Aggressive and offensive behaviour and action against people because of their skin colour, cultural or religious background or ethnic origin, which can include:
- physical, verbal or emotional bullying;
- insulting or degrading comments, name calling, gestures, jeers, insults jokes;
- offensive graffiti;
- humiliating, excluding, ridiculing or threatening behaviour;
- jokes about culture customs, music, different culture’s dressing habits;
- refusal to work with or co-operate with others because they are from a different culture.
In order to avoid any racism behaviour and bullying we all need to know about the meaning of xenophobia, about the diversity that defines people as unique and to think that we are all human regardless of the skin colour, culture or disability.