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Bullying Is Defined As Written, Verbal And Physical Conduct

Decent Essays

According to GLSEN, bullying is defined as written, verbal or physical conduct that adversely affects the ability of one or more students to participate in or benefit from the school’s educational programs or activities by placing the student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm (glsen.org). This includes conduct that is based on a student’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion or any other distinguishing characteristics that may be included by the state or local educational agency. This also includes association with a person or group with one or more of the above-mentioned characteristics, whether actual or perceived (glsen.org). Although …show more content…

Extreme stories such as in the film Valentine Road where a white heterosexual student killed a transgender student of color at school, highlight the importance of violence prevention especially within schools. In this specific case, administrators supported the killer’s action because they claimed he was provoked by the transgender student’s gender expression. Other teachers stated that the transgender student should have expected to be beat up and attacked because he was perceived to be visibly and willingly different. GLSEN’s 2007 survey found that “over forty percent of LGBT youth were shoved, pushed, or otherwise physically harassed” due to their real or perceived sexual orientation and that “over thirty percent were physically harassed” due to their gender expression (Cianciotto and Cahill 37). School is clearly not a safe space for these individuals and many often miss school because they feel unsafe. Violence within schools also creates this vicious cycle that leads individuals to avoid going to school and becoming further isolated and discriminated against (Maher). Violence, especially in a school environment, should one hundred percent be unacceptable on all grounds and should apply to all individuals. Violence due to race, gender, gender identity and/ or sexual orientation should not be tolerated. Hearing stories such as the one in the film

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