Isnela Guzman Guzman 1
Major Barnett
Sociology 110
March 28, 2013

Bullying
In the year 2012, many young and older teens between the ages of twelve to eighteen are faced with bullies in schools but also cyber bullying at home. Bullying can start even younger. It is becoming an epidemic in America and also nationwide. According to Bullyingstatistics.org there is a connection between bullying and negative effects. Some might even commit suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents. This roughly results in about 4,400 deaths per year. Another website (Makebeatsnotbeatdowns.org) states that almost 9 out of 10 LGBT students were reported to be verbally harassed in the past year due to their sexual orientation. About a quarter (22.1%) reported being physically assaulted also based on sexual orientation. We live in a society where “That's so gay.” along with “faggot,” “homo,” and “queer” are used without thoughts or feelings. We should be held accountable for our words/actions especially when they oppress others. When we see a victim getting bullied, we tend to look the other way because your conscious is telling us “If I help what if I get bullied too?” Many of us don't help and that's the problem. There are 4 different types of bullying. Verbal bullying involves name calling and teasing. Social bullying is when rumors are spread, leaving others out on purpose, and breaking off a friendship. Traditionally, physical bullying is when hitting, punching, shoving and intentional violence gets involved. The most popular way of bullying is cyber bullying; this includes internet, texting, and email to put someone else down. Guzman 2
Many victims start to have fewer friends, skip school, feel helpless, become loners, and also have trouble sleeping. Many also have thoughts about committing suicide. Bullying isn't just a onetime thing; essentially the victim is receiving harsh treatment over and over and over again – emotional or physical beatings constantly. Once you hear it enough times – hear you're not good enough you start to believe it. Many victims feel alone. Some believe getting help will only make the situation worse. Most cases never go reported. In the past decade or so, the most popular phrase “That's so gay.” is used by millions of people around the world. Popular on YouTube, Facebook, MySpace or any other social media site its use to represent something bad, uncool, or socially unacceptable. This expression condemns every gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgendered (LGBT) that defies societal “normal”. The expression itself helps promote anti-LGBT violence. They are more likely to be a target for hate crime. We need to stand up and promote equality. LGBTs have the same amount of civil rights as does everyone else. As citizens of young children who watch every move older adults make I think we should be kinder to one another. I think we should also solve our differences with a heart to heart talk and get to the bottom of it. There are a lot of ways people are different and I think we just need to see how we are all alike. Everyone has feelings, everyone has thoughts and families and personal image. Also I would like young children to see shrinks if the bullying gets outta hand. Playing sports with a team might show the young child team work isn't all bad and that if you work as a team then you get the reward of winning. Then there are times when a bully is too cocky and I think he/she needs to see the other side of humans. The hurt they cause the other person. One of the things that I believe other people bully other students is because they are insecure of themselves. I've met with a lot of people who use sarcasm a mechanism to shield