Author: Evie De-Rosa

What is bullying?
Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face-to-face or through cyberspace, and comes in many different forms:
Verbal: Name calling, persistent teasing, mocking, taunting and threats.
Physical: Any form of physical violence, intimidating behaviour, theft or the intentional damage of possessions. This includes hitting, kicking and pushing.
Emotional: Excluding, tormenting, ridiculing, humiliation, setting people up and spreading rumours.
Cyber: Cyber bullying is the misuse of digital technologies or communications to bully a person or a group, typically through messages or actions that are threatening and/or intended to cause offence, anxiety or humiliation.
Who gets bullied?
Children and young people can be targeted for any reason, but in our experience bullying is often:
Racist: Bullying based on ethnicity, skin colour, language, religious or cultural practices.
Homophobic: Discrimination based on sexuality and/or gender identity.
Sexual: Unwelcome sexual advances or remarks that are intended to cause offence, humiliation or intimidation. This could include pressure to send images of a sexual nature.
Disabilist: The bullying of children who have special educational needs and disabilities.
Based on 'difference': Bullying based on any real or perceived difference. This can include, but is not limited to factors surrounding the way someone looks or dresses, hobbies and interests, family set up, social behaviour.

What is NOT bullying
One-off incidents: Bullying is persistent and repetitive, and generally fits a pattern of behaviour. However, there will be occasions when a one-off incident is so significant that it causes long term effects, and is therefore categorised as bullying. One example may be extreme public humiliation that deters someone from engaging in discussions or social events.
Mutual conflict: A disagreement, argument or fight in which both parties have equally participated and where there is no imbalance of power.
Dealing with bullying
If you are being bullied, it is natural to wonder whether there is something wrong with you, or ask yourself the question, 'why me?'
A bully can make you feel alone, different and unlikeable. But trust the team at Kidscape when we say, this is not true.
Unfortunately, bullies just need to a find a person to target - someone they can harm either physically, verbally or emotionally. It is for this reason we refer to those being bullied as a 'target' rather than victim. We understand that bullying can be a terrible experience that feels like it will never end. However, the information you will find on Kidscape's website aims to give you the confidence to rise above the bullies and stop the cycle for good.