Social Problem Statment

In the past decades bullying has become a growing social problem, and the youths increasing use of technology by the youth population has caused this issue to escalate. According to the Youth Ambassadors for Kids Club Bullying Statistics (2012), every seven minutes a child is bullied in the United States. Most people have been bullied or bullied someone else at least once in their life time either by talking behind someone’s back, spreading rumors, teasing, intimidating, physically attacking, and even by excluding someone. People don’t realize how much they are hurting a person until that person breaks down and decides to take desperate measures to end the problem such as committing suicide, or killing/hurting their aggressor(s). Bullying consists of “a repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful person by a more powerful person or group of persons” (Van Der Zande). Bullying has become a globalized social problem that needs to be addressed because it is hurting thousands of individuals daily and nobody is benefiting from this problem. We can all contribute to prevent bullying from increasing violence in our communities.

In this case in particular, schools are known as a commonplace for bullying; and it often occurs when a student constantly picks on another student who most likely has different values and comes from another culture. Furthermore, it was researched that “more youth violence occurs on school grounds as opposed to on the way to school, and 77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally, and physically” (“Bullying Statistics,” 2012). Many of the bullies are or have been victims themselves, but because they don’t know how to put their emotions into words or are not being allowed to express their frustrations in a friendly manner, they resort to violence to boost their self-esteem. However, being violent towards a person only increases their self-esteem instantaneously, and it doesn’t fulfill the bully’s emotional and psychological needs to live a healthy life-style. According to National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center,  Facts for Teens: Bulling (2002) article, it states that bullying “ can involve direct attacks (such as hitting, threatening or intimidating, maliciously teasing and taunting, name-calling, making sexual remarks, and stealing or damaging belongings) or more subtle, indirect attacks (such as spreading rumors or encouraging others to reject or exclude someone).” People can become part of a bullying cycle towards a person without knowing it. For example, when a group decides to ostracize an individual based on religion, sex, culture, race, or values, a person might unconsciously adopt the group’s ideals without knowing the reasons behind it. We are inclined to adopt unethical values when trying to fit in with a special group. We want to avoid being the next victim or we are being peer pressured, or simply because we are afraid that they will take a stand against us too if we defend the victim.

Unfortunately, bullying exists because bullies experience an emotional imbalance caused by another bully. Kate Cohen-Posey author of the book How to Handle Bullies, Teasers and Other Meanies (1995), emphasizes that “you can always find a Big Bully behind a Bully” (p 10). Big bullies can be parents, siblings, guardians or other family members who tease the individual regularly; and they are the main contributors to this problem. Therefore, bullies instead of verbally expressing their feelings and indifferences towards others, they pray on individuals who are vulnerable and unlikely to fight back. In this never ending cycle nobody is the winner, only more victims of abuse. In fact, bullying creates more issues because you are not only dealing with an individual who doesn’t know how to express their feelings and is using other methods to do so, but you are dealing with a victim who has been emotionally or even physically hurt as well. We cannot put a price tag on destroying someone’s self-esteem. The lives of young adults have been consumed in an effort to put an end to this problem, a price nobody should ever have to pay. Imagine how much terror, loneliness, anger, anxiety, and pain a person must have to go through to think that taking away their life is easier than to cope with all those feeling that bullies remind them of everyday. Indeed, it is estimated that “every day 160,000 children miss school for fear of attacks or intimidation by other bullies” (“Bullying Statistics,” 2012). How do we expect kids to learn if they are terrified every time they go to school? We need to get involved in our children’s lives at an early stage to prevent bullying from spreading further.

Parent’s involvement in education can lead them to become aware of social issues that their children are being faced with; thus, enabling them to prevent the issues from escalating. In addition, children need to be thought to love and embrace the different human characteristics instead of hating them, teaching them to live in a healthy environment free of discrimination. In the same way, learning how to love and respect other’s differences can create a safe learning environment where the kids are allowed to express themselves without being afraid that somebody will harass them. Kids will also learn to verbalize their feelings without having to resort to violence or intimidation. Showing kids that they can all feel and hurt just like anybody else, can increase the children’s awareness when they dislike something about the other person.  Besides, creating a place where children feel accepted will excite them about going and staying in school. Therefore, if we don’t fix this problem or find an integral solution where it can be prevented, the consequences can intensify and ultimately increase violence.

At present, the Department of Justice along parents, students and the community, are building programs to help stop hatred and bullying among people. Some examples are the: “Let’s Be Friends” – Early Childhood Bullying Prevention Program, “There’s No Excuse for Peer Abuse” – Elementary School Program, and “Bullying. Ignorance is No Defense” – High School and Collegiate Program just to mention a few. Several of these social networks and local-help programs currently in place help communities and schools which are experiencing bullying; these programs are dedicated on becoming a hatred-free society in the future.  The California Safe Place to Learn Act ensures that “local educational agencies continue to work to reduce discrimination, harassment, violence, intimidation, and bullying” (Moltzen, 2012). There are also California Education Codes such as the code 32261-32262, 32265, 32270, 35294.2, and 48900 ("California anti-bullying laws"), which emphasize and define what is bullying and the actions that should be taken if a case presents. Simultaneously, groups globally and throughout the United States such as the “International Bullying Prevention Association,” are committed towards eradicating the social issue of bullying.

REFERENCES:

Bullying statistics. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.a4kclub.org/get-the-facts/bullying-statistics

California anti-bullying laws & policies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/laws/california.html

Cohen-Posey, K. (1995). How to handle bullies, teasers and other meanies. Highland City, FL: Rainbow Books, Inc.

Facts for teens: Bullying. (2002). Retrieved from http://www.unified-solutions.org/Pubs/what_is_bullying.pdf

Moltzen, R. (2012, February 1). Everyday law: new bullying laws in california. . Retrieved from http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/63047/Everyday_Law_New_Bullying_Laws_in_California

Van Der Zande, I. (n.d.). What is bullying?. Retrieved from http://www.kidpower.org/library/article/bullying-questions-answers/?