Bullying In School: How To Recognize, Respond, And Prevent It

General Purpose: The general purpose of the paper is to expound on bullying in school and the effects it has on the students 

Specific Purpose: To gain an understanding of the underlying causes of bullying in school and the short and long-term effects that bullying has on the students. 

Introductory Section 

Bullying: It refers to all the negative or unwanted behaviors performed an individual or group in which they either physically or verbally harass other children. 

Thesis statement: Bullying in school has adverse social, psychological and emotional consequences on the students who are harassed. 

Body (Key Points )

Underlying causes of bullying 

• Discriminatory gender norms coupled with increased violence against women. 
• Discriminatory gender norms continue to perpetuate male dominance and women’s subservience. 
• These norms are instilled through violence in some communities and the situation is made worse by the increased violence against women. 
• This is internalized by children who bully their peers. 
• Violet behaviors are propagated in schools through the discriminatory curricula, practice, and textbooks. 
• Female students are encouraged to take subjects considered more feminine and male student are encouraged to take those considered to be masculine. 
• Boys and girls are treated differently in school. 
• The gender discrimination, as well as power imbalance in school, promotes bullying practices. 
• Poor anti-bullying policies and practices in school. 
• It encourages students to harass their peers as there are no serious consequences for their actions. 
• Physical body and facial appearance cause students to be victimized by their peers. 
• Students from cultural backgrounds which are not tolerant to diversity and indifference often engage in practices of victimizing their peers. 
• Students who are obsessed or too thin, as well as those with physical handicaps, find themselves as victims of bullying. 
• Other causes of bullying in school include race and educational background.

Effects of Bullying in School 

Short-term Effects 

• These are the immediate effects which occur to the victims due to bullying. 

• They include; depression, anxiety, feeling of loneliness, being angry and sad. 

• Students also tend to develop poor eating habits; poor sleeping patterns and begin having complications. 

• They may also have poor self-esteem and became suspicious of their peers. 

Long-term effects 

• This is the effects which areas as a result of continued bullying. 

• They include; poor academic performance, more cases of student skipping class and disinterest in school activities with some students dropping from school. 

• Students may developmental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, avoidant personality disorder as well as psychopathy. 

• Other long-term effects include lack of trust, being hyper-vigilant. 

• Eventually, students may develop suicidal thoughts and commit suicide. 

Effects on Bullies 

• Students who bully others may also experience similar consequences as their victims in addition to other consequences as per a survey carried by several scholars. 
• There is a high risk of the students engaging in drug and substance abuse. 
• They may also engage in activities such as vandalization of people’s properties and as a result, have criminal convictions. 
• There is a risk of them dropping out of school. 

Conclusion 

There should be increased efforts by the school to put to an bullying by working with the parents, students and all the school staff. The schools can also formulate proper anti-bullying policies to ensure that schools are a no bullying zone.