What Is Bullying free essay sample

The book Under The Bridge tells a true story about the murder of a young girl from British Columbia, Canada:† It has been a long road to justice for Reena Virk, beaten and murdered at the hands of her teenage peers. The murder of this girl is one of the most notorious and heartbreaking cases in Canadian history. Here, for the first time, acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey reveals the stunning truth about a Canadian tragedy that captured international headlines. Who were the seemingly ordinary suburban teenagers who found themselves under the bridge in Victoria, BC, on the night of November 14, 1997? Why would a girl who longed to be their friend be beaten and killed? And how did so many teenagers keep terrible secrets from parents, teachers and police for eight days? These are the questions all of us have been asking, and in Under the Bridge the answers are revealed in a stunning narrative. We will write a custom essay sample on What Is Bullying? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Godfrey spent six years researching the case, conducting exclusive interviews with parents, classmates, police, prosecutors and, perhaps most importantly, several of the youths, including Warren Glowatski, one of the twoteenagers convicted of murdering Virk. Godfrey also witnessed firsthand the many trials of Kelly Ellard, also found guilty of killing a girl who just wanted to fit in†. (Godfrey, Rebecca. Under The Bridge. N. p. : Pocket Books, 2007. N. pag. Print. The word â€Å"bullying† would always be in my mind throughout my reading of Rebecca Godfrey’s â€Å"Under The Bridge†, so I decided to make bullying my essay topic. So what is bullying? Kids Help Phone describes bullying as â€Å"Bullying is the name we give to any negative, aggressive action that hurts, humiliates, demeans, frightens or excludes someone. † The web page also explains that there are different types of bullying and gives examples of each. Physical bullying, social bullying, emotional bullying, discriminatory bullying, and cyber bullying are all forms of bullying. Physical bullying involves hitting, shoving, pushing, and other types of force. Emotional bullying involves hurtful comments, teasing, and name calling. Social bullying involves excluding someone or spreading rumours. Discriminatory bullying targets people because of their sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identification, or religion. Discriminatory bullying attacks someone because of who they are. Cyber bullying involves internet and cellphones. (What is Bullying?. Kids Help Phone. N. p. , Oct. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. lt;http://www. idshelpphone. ca/Teens/InfoBooth/Bullying/What-is-bullying. aspxgt;). Another question that came to my mind was â€Å"Why do kids bully? †. I came up with many answers and ideas. I went to Empowering Parents to put my answers together. An article on that website states: â€Å"Why do some kids turn to bullying? The answer is simple: it solves their social problems. After all, its easier to bully somebody than to work things out, manage your emotions, and learn to solve problems. Bullying is the proverbial â€Å"easy way out,† and sadly, some kids take it. (Lehman, James. The Secret Life of Bullies: Why They Do It- and How to Stop Them. Empowering Parents: Child Behaviour Help. N. p. , n. d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. lt;http://www. empoweringparents. com/Why-Do-Kids-Children-Teens-Bully-and-How-to-Stop-Bullies. php#gt;. ) Lacking skills to problem solve in an effective way also creates bully like behavior. Aggression is used to get one’s way. This behaviour can be learned by example and is used to replace the social skills one should develop in grade school. Development of bullying can also stem from learning disabilities (diagnosed or undiagnosed) which prevents the child from learning both social and problem-solving skills. Bullying often occurs because people try to fit in or because they do not want to be a victim, so they join in too. Bullying often happens amongst peers. Bullying affects the victim. It can make the victim feel self-conscious, shy, or unsure. Victims can also become sad or depressed. Once a person has been bullied, they may hesitate to participate in situations where he or she might be ridiculed, such as in public speaking or in Visports. A bullying victim might even begin to possess previously absent anxious behavior. Victims may become depressed and see no worth in themselves, they may think that there is no way out of their torment. Some victims find that suicide is the only way out. On the other hand, the victims can develop resentment and may seek revenge through acts of violence against the bully and other instigators. As a result of bullying, people can lose their ability to love and trust, denying them the chance to experience