Shaping
the
Future:
Making it Better for
Bullied Students
1
Quote
“. . . the most deadly of all
possible sins is the mutilation
of a child ’ s spirit. ” -Erik
Erickson
Robert E. Owens. Queer Kids: The Challenges and Promise for Lesbian, Gay, and
Bisexual Youth. (New York: Harrington Park Press, 1998), 101.
2
Bullying Defined
Accessed January 2012
From Bully Free Alberta website
Verbal bullying - name-calling, sarcasm,
teasing, rumours, threatening, negative
references to culture, ethnicity, race, religion,
gender, or sexual orientation, unwanted
sexual comments
Social Bullying - mobbing, scapegoating,
excluding from a group, humiliating others
http://www.bullyfreealberta.ca/bullying.htm
3
Bullying Defined
Accessed January 2012
From Bully Free Alberta website
Physical Bullying - hitting, poking, pinching,
chasing, shoving, coercing, destroying or stealing
belongings, unwanted sexual touching.
Cyber Bullying - using the internet or text
messaging to intimidate, put-down, spread
rumours or make fun of someone.
http://www.bullyfreealberta.ca/bullying.htm
4
Bullying Frequency
Accessed January 2012
From Bully Free Alberta website
•Approximately 1 in 10 children bully others
•As many as 25% of children in grades 4 to 6
have been bullied
•2004 Journal of Pediatrics study found that
about 1 in 7 Canadian children aged 11 to 16
are victims of bullying
http://www.bullyfreealberta.ca/bullying.htm
5
Workplace
bullying can be an
issue for students
6
Accessed January 2012
Workplace Bullying
"In 1994, Staffordshire University
Business School published the results
of a survey indicating that 1 in 2 UK
employees have been bullied at work
during their working life."
http://www.workplacebullying.co.uk/aethesis.html
7
Accessed January 2012
Workplace Bullying
2010 Workplace Bullying Institute study (U.S.)
•
•
•
•
35% of workers experienced bullying firsthand
62% of bullies are men; 58% of targets are women
Women bullies target women in 80% of cases
Bullying is 4X more prevalent than illegal
harassment (2007 study)
• Majority (68%) of bullying is same-gender
harassment
http://www.workplacebullying.org/wbiresearch/2010-wbi-national-survey/
8
Accessed January 2012
Workplace Bullying
Might be workplace bullying if . . .
•constantly picked on
•humiliated in front of colleagues
•regularly unfairly treated
•physically or verbally abused
•blamed for problems caused by others
•always given too much to do
•regularly threatened with the sack
•unfairly passed over for promotion or denied training
opportunities
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ResolvingWorkplaceDisputes/
DiscriminationAtWork/DG_10026670
9
Dual
Identities:
Queer &
Christian
10
Cannot learn or work
Queer &of fear
in atmosphere
Christian
11
Student Quote
“Everywhere I go I think: Am I safe here?
Is someone waiting to get me? So many
people get bashed.”
Queer &
Christian
Robert E. Owens. Queer Kids: The Challenges and Promise for Lesbian, Gay, and
Bisexual Youth. (New York: Harrington Park Press, 1998), 72.
12
Dual
Identities:
Student Quote
“ people used to pee on me in the
shower . . . I would be standing in the urinal
and somebody would come up and kick me
in the small of my back . . .”
Queer &
Christian
Robert E. Owens. Queer Kids: The Challenges and Promise for Lesbian,
Gay, and Bisexual Youth. (New York: Harrington Park Press, 1998), 96-97.
13
Racist/Ethnic Bullying
Racist bullying can be identified by the
motivation of the bully, the language
used, and/or by the fact that victims are
singled out because of the colour of
their skin, the way they talk, their ethnic
grouping or by their religious or cultural
practices.
Scottish website
http://www.antibullying.net/racistinfo3.htm
14
Student Quote
karl - 1
it started when I was in grade 3 . . . I was
beat up, called names, and even got my
face put in dog feces. Not a day went by
that this kind of thing didn’t happen to
me . . . After a while of being called a
loser, freak, nerd, and every other name
out there I started to believe it. I felt so
empty, like I didn’t matter. I feared going
to school.
http://stopabully.ca/resources/bullying-victim-support-letters
Accessed December 2011
15
Student Quote
karl - 2
Even in the summer when there was no
school, I still got tortured. I did not leave
my house very much. It got so bad that
when I was 13 I tried to kill myself. My
parent’s landlord at the time had come
over for something and found me
bleeding, he took me to the hospital
saving my life . . .
http://stopabully.ca/resources/bullying-victim-support-letters
16
Accessed December 2011
Student Quote
karl - 3
I’m now 34 years old and still feel much the
same way as I did when I was a kid. The pain
and the feeling that I’m a loser is still there. I
still have troubles making friends and have
never felt what it is like to have someone love
me. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t
think about what it was like growing up as a kid.
http://stopabully.ca/resources/bullying-victim-support-letters
17
Accessed December 2011
Accessed December 2011
Religious Bullying
"At other schools where the girls wear
scarves on their heads they are teased
and the scarves are pulled off. My mum
had heard of that happening and told me
that it never happens at this school and it
hasn't." . . . Year 10 girl (Grade 10)
http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/issues/religion.shtml
18
Accessed December 2011
Religious Bullying
"I go to a country school and most of the
kids go to the local church. These kids
make fun of any of us other kids who go to
different churches or don't go at all."
...Year 7 student
http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/issues/religion.shtml
19
Accessed December 2011
Religious Bullying
School communities need to:
•develop awareness of the different
religious groups within the community
•adopt a pluralist viewpoint that affirms the
value of other religions
•establish links with different religious
communities and their support material
http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/issues/religion.shtml
20
Religious Bullying
Accessed December 2011
School communities need to:
•engage in dialogue between members of
different religions . . .
•create opportunities to explore different
religious traditions . . .
•challenge stereotypes and behaviours that
harass or discriminate . . .
•accommodate spiritual diversity of their
students
http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/issues/religion.shtml
21
Accessed December 2011
Socioeconomic Bullying
"We get so much pressure to wear the right
brand name clothes. People who can't,
they're isolated, criticised for not being like
the cool trendies." ... Year 11 student
"Finding a voice to speak up about bullying and harassment
on the basis of poverty can be almost impossible for
students at the receiving end. Both bullying and poverty are
personally distressing and socially unacceptable."
...Support teacher
http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/issues/socioeconomic.shtml
22
Accessed January 2012
Disability Bullying
"I'm deaf and my friends have told me that
some of my peers follow me making fun of
me and the way that I speak."
...Year 9 student (Grade 9)
http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/issues/disability.shtml
23
Academic Bullying
Bullying due to limited academic ability or
due to excellent academic ability
•Nerd
•Retart
24
Accessed January 2012
Gender Bullying
Bullying due to non-traditional behavior:
•Girls called slut', 'whore', 'bitch' and 'butch'
•Boys called 'poof', 'wuss' and 'girlie'
http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/j/gender.shtml
25
Sexuality Bullying
Bullying due to perceived sexual
orientation, gender identity or gender
expression
26
Universal Issue
Review of 28 random US school shootings
from 1982-2001 found nearly every case
shooter was constantly bullied, beat up,
and “ gay-baited ” (inadequate gender
performance-not masculine enough) .
Queer &
Christian
Michael Kimmel and Matthew Mahler. “Adolescent Masculinity, Homophobia,
and Violence.” American Behavioral Scientist. 46 (2003): 1439-1458.
27
Accessed January 2012
Insults
UK
Teachers
Hear
•Gay (83%)
Bitch (59%)
Slag (45%)
Poof (29%)
Batty boy (29%)
Slut (26%)
Queer (26%)
Lezzie (24.8%)
Homo (22%)
Faggot (11%)
Sissy (5%)
Source: ATL
From 2008/03/18 article
Most common insults heard by teachers
11 insults total
4 not directly gay
1 not related to sexual orientation, gender or
gender expression
28
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7289390.stm
Accessed January 2012
US Elementary Schools
GLSEN's Playgrounds and Prejudice:
Elementary School Climate - almost 1/2 of
students hear "gay" used in a negative
way or hear the word "retard" used as an
insult - these are the most commonly
heard negative remarks in elementary
schools
Based on GLSEN study conducted in November and December 2010
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/blogs-main/advocates-blog/1948-major-reports-thisweek-on-bullying-abortion
29
Accessed January 2012
Canadian Study
•3,700 students across Canada, 2,600 of
which were straight surveyed conducted
by Univ of Manitoba for EGALE
•70% heard phrases like “that’s so gay”
and 48% heard terms like “faggot,”
“lezbo” and “dyke” every day
see Egale School Climate Survey 2009
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/article/989881--gay-insults-socommon-in-schools-students-feel-unsafe-survey-finds
May 12 2011 story
30
Accessed January 2012
Canadian Study
•64% of queer students felt unsafe at
school
•21% of queer students report physical
harassment or assault
•10% of straight teens physically harassed
or assaulted for being gay
•58% of straight teens find homophobic
comments upsetting
see Egale School Climate Survey 2009
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/article/989881--gay-insults-socommon-in-schools-students-feel-unsafe-survey-finds
May 12 2011 story
31
College Scene
• Univ. of Nebraska gay grad student - campus
atmosphere “climate of fear”1
• “The GLBT community still faces harassment and
discrimination on this campus every day. I never know
what 'personal opinions' I'm going to hear when I speak
to faculty in the dinning room or halls, and I have to
brace myself every time I read list serv emails."2
Robert D., et. al., “Campus Climate and Needs Assessment Study for Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Students at the University of NebraskaLincoln: Moving Beyond Tolerance Toward Empowerment.” University of Nebraska –
Lincoln. November, 2002 May 12, 2011
<http://www.unl.edu/cglbtc/reports/GLBT%20Climate%20Reprt%20w%20Tables.pdf>
2“Climate Survey 2006-2008-2010: A Presentation for Staff Council.” St. Mary’s
College of California. October 12, 2010 May 10, 2011 <http://www.stmarysca.edu/about-smc/institutional- research/surveys/docs/ClimateSurvey2006-20082010STAFFpresentation-Final_000.pdf>
1Brown,
32
College Scene
From St. Mary’s College of California Summary Climate
Survey 2006-2008-2010
•47% of faculty
•37% of staff
•45% of students occasionally or frequently heard
disparaging or insensitive remarks about GLBT
Sam Agronow. Summary Climate Survey 2006-2008-2010. Saint Mary’s College of
California. n.d. May 10, 2011 <http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/about-smc/institutionalresearch/surveys/docs/SUMMARY- ClimateSurvey2006-2008-2010_000.pdf>, 2
.
33
Impact of Bullying
Accessed January 2012
From Bully Free Alberta website
•Withdrawal from family and school - wanting to
be left alone
•Shyness
•Stomachaches
•Headaches
•Panic Attacks
•Not being able to sleep
•Sleeping too much
•Being exhausted
•Nightmares
http://www.bullyfreealberta.ca/bullying.htm
34
Health Issue
Study of 251 Grades 9-11 students in
college prep high school found boys found
students bullied by being called gay
experienced “greater psychological distress,
greater verbal & physical bullying, and
more negative perceptions of their school
experiences than boys bullied for other
reasons.”
Queer &
Christian
Susan Swearer, et. al., “‘You’re So Gay!’: Do Different Forms of Bullying Matter
for Adolescent Males?” School Psychology Review. 37 (2008): 160-173.
35
Health Issue
•Now the question arises, “ How can a
minority group suffer unjustified negative
treatment and remain its equal in mental
stability?”
Queer &
Christian
Louis Diamant and Johnson C. Smith, eds. “Preface.” Homosexual Issues in
the Workplace. Washington, DC: Taylor and Francis, 1993.
36
Dual
Identities:
Health Issue
2002 Study of over 9,000 Grades 9 to 12
youth in Massachusetts & Vermont
LGB Youth with high levels of at-school
victimization reported increased levels of
substance use, suicidality, and sexual-risk
behavior (than straight peers with high levels of at-school
victimization)
Queer &
Christian
Daniel Bontempo, and Anthony D’Augelli. “Effects of At-School Victimization
and Sexual Orientation on Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual Youths’ Health Risk
Behavior.” Journal of Adolescent Health. 30 (2002): 364-374.
37
Health Issue
Literature review notes
•adults report - increased internalized
homophobia, guilt, and self-blame after
victimization
Queer &
Christian
Daniel Bontempo, and Anthony D’Augelli. “Effects of At-School Victimization
and Sexual Orientation on Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual Youths’ Health Risk
Behavior.” Journal of Adolescent Health. 30 (2002): 364-374.
38
Dual
Identities:
Not Yet Equal
Study Description
•Health survey admin to BC youth in
grades 7 to 12
•Survey admin 3 times - 1992, 1998, 2003
•Large study - 75% of school districts took
part
•over 30 thousand youth took part in most
recent study
Not Equal Yet: The Health of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Youth in BC.
Vancouver: McCreary Centre Society, 2007.
39
Dual
Identities:
Not Yet Equal
Findings (Dual minority identity)
•GLB
youth more likely to report
discrimination
due
to
race,
color,
appearance, orientation
•Bi youth 50 X more likely to report
discrimination
due
to
race,
color,
appearance, orientation than straight youth
Queer &
Christian
Not Equal Yet: The Health of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Youth in BC.
Vancouver: McCreary Centre Society, 2007.
40
Not Yet Equal
Findings
•GLB youth less likely to always feel safe at
school
•More likely to have skipped classes in last
month
•More likely to have carried a weapon to
school in last month
Queer &
Christian
Not Equal Yet: The Health of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Youth in BC.
Vancouver: McCreary Centre Society, 2007.
41
Not Yet Equal
Findings
•GLB youth more likely to report 1st sexual
experience before 14 yrs
•GB males 3 x more likely involved in
pregnancy
•GL females 2 to 3 x more likely to been
pregnant
Queer &
Christian
Not Equal Yet: The Health of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Youth in BC.
Vancouver: McCreary Centre Society, 2007.
42
Not Yet Equal
Findings-suicide attempts in last 12 months
for each gender
•Gay males 3 x more likely; bi males 4 x
more likely
•Lesbians over 4.5 x more likely & bi
females 5 x more likely
Queer &
Christian
Not Equal Yet: The Health of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Youth in BC.
Vancouver: McCreary Centre Society, 2007.
43
Internalized Self-hate?
Accessed December 2011
Winnipeg Free Press
Bullied teen pleads guilty to burning
down his house
By: Mike McIntyre
Posted: 10/29/2011 3:25 AM | Comments: 8 (including replies)
•15-year-old African immigrant experiences
repeated bullying and racial taunts in Winnipeg
school his house down in a fit of anger
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/132842743.html
44
Self-hate
Look for
•Risk-taking sexual, and recreational
behaviors
•Substance and alcohol abuse
•Pawn behavior (external locus of control)
•Choosing careers or jobs that are not gay
friendly or minority group friendly
•Settling for partners that are abusive
45
Dual
Identities:
Self-hate
Look for
•Students aiming low
•Not performing to abilities
•Choosing pink triangle ghetto jobs
•Not self advocating
•Doormat or dictator responses to conflict
•Blaming everything on being queer
46
Christian Identity
HellwLosswSin
Queer Identity
ShamewFearwRejection
47
Queer Identity
Christian Identity
FearwRejection
Compartmentalized Christian Identity
48
White Identity
First Nation
Identity
ShamewFearwRejection
49
Compartmental ID
•People with dual minority identities could
be at higher risk for suicide, due to reduced
support in either minority community
50
What’s the point
work?
•Cycling from damaged to healing to
damaged
•School climate needs to be changed
51
Dual
Convince Admin.
Identities:
•1996-Jamie Nabozny won close to $1
million for pain & suffering for 4 years of
anti-gay bullying.
•2002-Derek Henkle won $450 thousand.
Queer &
Christian
“ The Extent of Public Education Nondiscrimination Policy
Protection for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students: A National
Study.” Urban Education. 41 March (2006), 115-150.
Ronald Russo.
52
Dual
Convince Admin.
Identities:
•Henkle’s case. Transfered to a school for
troublemakers after being lassoed around
the neck & threatened to be dragged behind
a pickup. At that school punched repeatedly
in front of 2 police who stood by watched
Queer &
Christian
“ The Extent of Public Education Nondiscrimination Policy
Protection for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students: A National
Study.” Urban Education. 41 March (2006), 115-150.
Ronald Russo.
53
Dual
Convince Admin.
Identities:
•Transferred to 3rd school. Official at new
school blamed Henkle for “acting too much
like a fag”
Queer &
Christian
“ The Extent of Public Education Nondiscrimination Policy
Protection for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students: A National
Study.” Urban Education. 41 March (2006), 115-150.
Ronald Russo.
54
Dual
Identities:
Zero Tolerance
Insults
•Homophobic
•Racist, religious, ethnic
•Sexist
•Ability-related
•Weight/physical build
Serious bullying
•Threats
•Violence, fighting
55
Careers
•Career counselling is non-directive
•Empowers people to set life direction
•Empowering is affirmation
Queer &
Christian
56
Spirituality as Therapy
•Attributed to Nelson Mandela in inaugural
speech in 1994
•“ Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
handsome, talented, and fabulous? Actually
who are you not to be? You are a child of
God. Your playing small does not serve the
world” (73)
Hinnant, Olive Elaine. God Comes Out: A Queer Homiletic. Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2007.
57
Watch News
•Colorado passed Prop 2 - forbidding GL
human rights protection
•GL high school drop out rate doubled!
T. Osborn (1994) cited in Robert E. Owens. Queer Kids: The Challenges and
Promise for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth. (New York: Harrington Park
Press, 1998), 58.
58
Share Strategies
•What works in your school?
•What do you think could work?
59
Strategies Adopted From Kidscape
Accessed December 2012
• pupils are told from Day One that bullying of any
kind is not tolerated
• anonymous survey of the pupils to find out if
bullying is a problem and then act upon it
• parents are informed that the school is committed
to ensuring harmony amongst its pupils
• materials, books, lessons and activities which are
used in the curriculum to help the pupils learn
appropriate ways to behave
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/rascistbullying.shtml
60
Strategies Adopted From Kidscape
Accessed December 2012
• units cover prejudice, direct/indirect discrimination,
stereotypes, celebrating diversity
• guidelines state that all pupils are entitled to feel
safe and secure
• teach values and respects people from all cultural,
ethnic and religious backgrounds
• all staff trained in equality issues, working with
parents, supporting victims, changing negative
behaviour and school procedures for resolving
bullying
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/rascistbullying.shtml
61
Strategies Adopted From Kidscape
Accessed December 2012
• work with staff and pupils together to
create an anti-bullying policy that includes
issues of racist bullying
• ensure that the policy is readily available to
staff, parents and pupils. Ask pupils to sign
the policy and keep it in their school file
• explain that no one is allowed to be a
bystander. Anyone who knows about or
witnesses bullying, must tell and get help
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/rascistbullying.shtml
62
Strategies Adopted From Kidscape
Accessed December 2012
• act when told about bullying
• try to uncover the bullying as this protects
the victims
• provide a private way for frightened
victims to tell - individual meetings with all
pupils on a regular basis so no one is
seen to be singled out or a box where
children can anonymously post
suggestions, complaints and comments
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/rascistbullying.shtml
63
Strategies Adopted From Kidscape
Accessed December 2012
• teach self esteem, friendship skills, assertiveness,
handling conflict
• teach all pupils strategies, such as
• ignore the bullying, pretend not to hear
• walk away quickly; use body language to look
determined, strong and positive even if you feel
frightened inside
• shout NO, GO AWAY as loudly as possible
• always tell a trusted adult if you are bullied
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/rascistbullying.shtml
64
Strategies Adopted From Kidscape
Accessed December 2012
• set up procedures for resolving incidents
• ensure the safety and support of victims
• try first to mediate so that pupils are given
a chance to resolve things peacefully
• understand some students do not
appreciate the distress they are causing
and are willing to change their behaviour
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/rascistbullying.shtml
65
Strategies Adopted From Kidscape
Accessed December 2012
• help bullies to understand that their
behaviour is completely unacceptable
and that they must take responsibility for
their actions, and make amends
• use sanctions, when needed
• record repeated and or serious incidents
of bullying so that trends so pupils can
be monitored and stopped
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/rascistbullying.shtml
66
Strategies Adopted From Kidscape
Accessed December 2012
• inform parents/guardians about bullying
incidents and what action is being taken in serious cases, ask them to come to a
meeting to discuss the problem
• call the social services or police, if
necessary and appropriate
• make it clear that suspension or exclusion
will be considered in serious cases
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/rascistbullying.shtml
67
Dual
Identities:
Queer &
Thank
You!
Christian