BULLYING

Bullying is termed as a form of abuse that uses power and dominance to those that are
weaker and less powerful. Bullying has been taking place in various areas but it is mostly
common in schools and workplaces. It exists in various social groups, social classes and is found
all over the world. The behavior is usually repetitive and aggressive and it is based on the sole
intention of hurting the victim. Bullies carry out the behavior to harm the other person as a way
of gaining power over the other person. It is normally a behavior that is planned and purposeful.

Bullying in schools has become very common and it has led to some very serious
consequences. It has led to physical violence in forms of fight and in some extreme cases deaths
by suicides. Cases have emerged of some forms of bullying in the schools that have led to some
of these severe consequences. Children who are victims have had to live with short term and
long term consequences of the behavior. Some of the other effects include poor performance in
their studies, depression, bedwetting, being withdrawn, changing schools regularly and is some
cases suicides among others (Norfolk, n.d). Over 7% of children especially in the 8th grade tend
to stay at home once a month since they are bullied in schools (Banks, 1997). Reports have also
shown that about 15% of students are bullied on a regular basis with some being initiated into the
bullying practice. Direct bullying is more common among boys than with the girls. However,
physical abuse in boys tends to reduce as they progress in age. The victims of bullying
sometimes carry these effects such as depression and low self-esteem into their adulthood.

Some people believe that bullying is only seen on television or in the movies but it is a
real life issue that is seen and experienced by many every day. People of all ages, races, cultures
and backgrounds are affected. There are some who are embarrassed to report bullying but it
occurs every day, everywhere. It is important to learn about and understand what causes people
to be bullies, as well as understand the effects that being bullied can have on a person.It is
important for people to understand all sides of bullying, from the signs of someone being bullied
to what you can do to prevent it.
 BULLYING

To begin, we must question what bullying actually is. Bullying may be defined as when
an individual repeatedly and deliberately brings about harassment physically, mentally and
emotionally towards another on a repetitive occurrence. As technology advances, the affect of
bullying on individuals is a growing concern with the ability to reach victims in their own homes
via social media. Victims are left feeling socially withdrawn and powerless.

Bullying as a social issue in today’s day and age is not left unnoticed, though is still a
growing problem and thrives partially in schools, the work place and on online networks.
Education is a critical strategy to change and control issues such as these, so that individuals can
recognise the consequences of their actions. With a growing suicide rate, and a statistic of 1 in 4
Australian student’s reporting personal incidents every week, it is evident that the problem needs
to be constantly addressed particularly in schooling environments. Ways to achieve student
engagement must entail interactive and informative learning tools. In response to this, the
development of the ‘blah blah’ short film seeks social change in this topic and is suitable for a
student based audience.

Bullying is defined as unwanted or aggressive behavior that causes someone to feel afraid
or intimidated. This behavior could be something physical, verbal, or something done
electronically or through social media. If someone feels threatened by someone’s actions or
words, it could be considered bullying, even if that was not the intent.There are many types of
bullying, how to recognize bullying, how to report bullying, what to do if you see incidents of
bullying, and what resources are available to persons who have been bullied.