Bullying and Girls: A Time for Discussion

[williamjackson]

Bullying and Girls: A Time for Discussion

The issues of bullying, harassment, teasing and intimidation
were discussed, role played, and even acted out through
artwork and acting. Twenty young ladies from elementary thru
high school participated in the presentation:
“I Will Survive Bullying”

Arranged by Journey Into Womanhood held at Community
Connections in Jacksonville, Florida. A program designed by
Mrs. Coleman-Moss (Empowerment Resources), the mission is
to “empower youth and their families, but to establish community
partnerships and expose families to other community resources.”
Empowerment Resources Inc.
http://www.empowermentresourcesinc.org/aboutus.asp

Empowerment Resource's Journey Into Womanhoodâ,,¢ (JIW)
provided an interactive presentation by William Jackson
(My Quest To Teach) to discuss bullying and cyberbullying,
harassment, teasing and intimidation. Mr. Jackson a teacher,
presenter on Social Media, Internet Safety, Youth and Technology,
and Guest Host on BlogTalkRadio “Courageous Conversations Ask
A Teacher,” designed an interactive presentation called,
“I Will Survive Bullying” focusing on self esteem, bullying
prevention, nonviolent strategies, empathy, local laws and self
confidence when dealing with bullying and other forms of harassment.

This presentation was attended by 20 young ladies from elementary
to high school. The young ladies all had experiences with teasing and
bullying, but at various degrees. Some were bullied because of their
clothes, some their hair, some even because of the color of their
skins (Colorism). Colorism is not a new form of bullying, but a
dangerous form of inter-cultural racism.

This workshop provided an opportunity
for the young ladies to talk about the seriousness of events happening
at schools locally and nationally. The information shared was guided
by a discussion from current school topics and questions that youth
have about why they maybe picked out and bullied, the appropriate
nonviolent responses to bullying, involvement of teachers and
administrators and communicating with parents.
The use of Social Media was integrated into the discussion because
of the increase of CyberStalking and CyberBullying through computers,
Smartphones, and other devices that have access to online content.
Teens major mode of communication is with electronic devices and
CyberStalking and CyberBullying along with Sexting are growing.

Educators and administrators are the first lines of deterrence for
bullying in classrooms and schools, the young ladies shared their
lack of trust for many teachers and administrators because as students
they feel they are not taken seriously about this issue that is creating an
atmosphere of fear, mental and emotional trauma and missing of school.
Studies of bullying by various organizations found that students threaten
repeatedly suffer from various forms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) that is commonly associated with combat veterans. Several
students in high school openly stated that teachers have disregarded
their reporting of bullying that students receive in schools and are
fearful of violence because “no one takes it serious at my school”
says one high school young lady. They do not  want to be labeled
as “snitches.”

Statistics show that students are stressed, Bullyingstatistics.org,
“77% of students experience bullying in some form: mental,
verbal, or physical.”
The incidents that can be measured are determined by the regularity
of the events. If bullying is consistent and continuous there is cause
for alarm and intervention at schools. Students may feel imprisoned
if subjected to regular, consistent and continuous bullying.
They may feel no way out of what they perceive as a trapped situation
creating stress that builds and may cause mental and physical challenges.

Through the efforts of organizations like Empowerment Resource's
Journey Into Womanhood, young ladies can talk about incidents of
bullying and build strategies to deal with and prevent potential incidents.
A very important element is that students have a parent or guardian to
talk to, to have a mature adult that values what the student feels and acts
upon their stresses by inquiry and finding solutions. Stated by several
young ladies the support from parents is very important. Knowing there is
someone they can go to and share how they feel and values their feeling
empowers them to be strong and confident.
Schools need to provide support in more ways because traditional
strategies are not working.

Resources:
Empowerment Resources Inc.
http://www.empowermentresourcesinc.org/aboutus.asp

Bullying in School
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400553/william-jackson/2010-11-03/bullying-school-physical-and-cyber

Bullying Resources
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400553/william-jackson/2010-11-17/bullying-resources

Understanding Bullying and Violence
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400553/william-jackson/2012-02-29/understanding-bullying-and-violence

[spuwho]

I agree, female bullying is worse more than ever. Cyber female bullying has gone beyond the pale.

Where does the energy go, to help people survive? Or to convince people how wrong it is?

[williamjackson]

The energy goes in to education and mentoring.

To get girls to understand they are all on the same playing field
when it comes to education, maturity and growth.

Wm