Oct 10
19
Bullies Are Often Boys, But Girls Do It Too
There has been a heck of a lot written in the media and on the news lately about high school bullying and how some feel that it has reached epic proportions, yet no one seems to know why. Has it always been this bad? Or is the increasing spotlight on diversity and tolerance really just making it seem worse than it is? I feel like it’ s a little of both.
The interesting thing is that one high school, which is very close to where I grew up and went to high school, and which happens to be a really large high school called Mentor High, has made national headlines for having four deaths that may be attributed to bullying in the last two years.
Now either that’s an incredible coincidence, or this school needs to stop denying that it has anything to do with the culture they allow to perpetuate, or their tolerance of the ongoing bullying, and address this very serious issue which has potentially taken four teens away from their families forever. Young lives – lost forever – because of the thoughtless words and actions of other teens who really don’t know themselves yet and don’t know how terribly awful what they are doing is yet.
Most of these bullies will really feel genuine remorse when they get older, wiser and more mature. But they are not mature, and that’s why mean, bullying behavior is so prevalent in this age group. Both boys and girls are bullies, they just do it in a little different way. Girls are usually a little more verbal and sly about bullying, whereas boys may get more aggressive and physical about it. Either way, it’s extremely hurtful and unfathomable behavior that affects the kids that are being tortured on a level that these bullies just don’t understand.
I listened to stories of a few of these kids and was literally moved to tears. It breaks my heart that the careless, cruel and even violent behavior ended young lives when they were just beginning. It even brings me back to my younger days in school when a few girls bullied me. And I wasn’t nice to a few girls sometimes too, I supposed I just didn’t know any better and was trying to fit in desperately. It’s such a shame that we can’t be more secure in who we are and not try to be followers when we are younger.
