Bullying In The United States

Ana Sofia Canales
Mr. Martinez
English III DE
October 5, 2015 Bullying Suicide. Depression. What leads someone to commit those things? Every 90 minutes, somewhere in the world, a teenager takes his own life. According to a website of bullying prevention, it is estimated that around 30% of students are involved in bullying, as victims, perpetrators or both. Studies have found that 15 to 25% of children and youth in the U.S. are bullied and 15 to 20% bully others. They fear of attack and intimidation by other kids. most kids in the world get bullied by the most minimum causes such as their appearance, race, gender, religion, etc. People who are bullied are more likely to have emotional effects, be depressed or become suicidal.
"Bullying is an act of repeated aggressive behavior in order to intentionally hurt another person, physically or mentally." (Ducharme).
It is a hurtful behavior with an imbalance of power or strength between people. There are four types of bullying- physical, verbal, indirect and cyber-bullying. Physical is when one person harasses another person in a face to face manner. This is the type that aggressively hurts someone’s body. Fighting, hitting, and destroying personal property are all types of physical bullying. Verbal bullying is by using words in a negative way such as insults. This can hurt the victim not only mentally but also physically. Calling names, threathing somebody and making fun of others are all types of this type of bullying. Indirect bullying is non-physical bullying. It isn’t seen by others and is conducted out of sight. Spreading rumors, and talking behind people’s back are types of indirect bullying. Cyber-bullying is the use of electronic communication to bully a person. This type is when kids have been harassed and tormented by receiving threats or is embarrassed by a bully using technology. They can post pictures, something private for the world to see and for people to make fun of. It’s easier for bullies to utilize this method because it doesn’t require face to face manner, which is the ultimate from of
cowardice. Some ways to know if your child or any relative is being bullied is by the signs they display. You're most likely to know what they are experiencing by looking at their appearance, body energy, behavior, and self-esteem. Victims usually appear to be afraid of going to school or other social activities. They may show lassitude and will not want to hangout with their friends or even go out anywhere. Changes in sleep, appetite and energy may vary, according to the level of bullying the victim is experiencing. Be alert for any changes in your child’s behavior and talk to him or her frequently about what is going on at school and in their other activities. Being bullied is linked to many negative outcomes and can have a serious long-term emotional or psychological effect. When bullying continues and a school does not take action, the entire school community can be negatively affected. It impacts the student’s capacity of learning and engagement. It can lead to a student disliking school and students feeling dramatically insecure and not good enough. According to a federal government website, study shows that some students also struggle academically , including lower attendance and with grades, GPA, rank, etc. They may also feel less well accepted by peers and have a low self-esteem. It can result to a person feeling miserable and powerless and may experience depression, anxiety and increased feelings of sadness and loneliness. Preventing and stopping bullying involves getting people to know about it and how to be aware of it. It’s a commitment to create a safe environment in which children can express themselves, socially and academically, without being afraid. Students and parents need to be part of the solution and should be aware of what they face in school. Parents can help by teaching their kids how to ignore bully kids and how to defend themselves in a good way. Educate your child to ignore any bullying in social media, it’ll allow him to create a strong self-esteem. All in all, parents need to come into realization that this has become a main issue in America and it affects about 60% of students worldwide.
There are four types of bullying: physical bullying, verbal bullying, cyberbullying, and indirect bullying. Everyone deserves to have a fun time at school and spend time with your friends. School should not be somewhere you are terrified of going, but a place you go to succeed and learn. It is an unacceptable behavior that can lead to death. Protect your children and loved ones. Teach them to ignore and move on. Bullying is a main issue in the United States and it may not seem as a huge deal now, but it will be when your own kids are the
victims.