Bullying clearly affects our well-being and can happen to anyone, anywhere. If you or someone you know is being bullied, you are not alone. Although we participate in Anti-Bullying Week each year, it is imperative this work is continued and embedded throughout the year.
Bullying is defined as the repetitive, intentional harming of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power.
Bullying is, therefore:
• Deliberately hurtful
• Repeated, often over a period of time
• Difficult to defend against
Bullying can include:
Emotional
Being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting
Physical
Hitting, kicking, pushing, taking another’s belongings, any use of violence
Racial
Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
Sexual
Explicit sexual remarks, display of sexual material, sexual gestures, unwanted physical attention, comments about sexual reputation or performance, or inappropriate touching
Direct or indirect verbal
Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
Baiting and banter can also be classed as bullying.