Bullying

Bullying and Its Effects on Today’s Teenagers

By Brittney Garcia

Sociology

Professor Griswold

11/29/10

Bullying

“1 out of 4 kids is Bullied. The American Justice Department says that this month 1 out of every 4 kids will be abused by another youth.” (Pascack) School bullying is becoming a worldwide epidemic. Almost 80% of America’s youth is a part of some kind of bullying, whether it is physical, mental, or verbal. Bullying in America has become epidemic because of the effect it is having on our youth. More young adults and teens are committing suicide due to some kind of bullying, mostly in the school setting. For this entire year, the news as been filled with headlines of teen suicides due to bullying.

In picture: Asher Brown far left, Justin Aaberg middle, and Tyler Clementi.

There is the case of the “gay teen suicides” that has been occurring recently. “In September 2010 alone, at least six gay youth—all of whom endured a relentless stream of taunts by their classmates—ended their own lives” (AOL Health) In the first case Asher Brown a 13 year old boy, shot himself after months of being bullied at his middle school. After one day of being pushed around at school he then went home, took the household gun and shot himself. He was harassed and picked on at school constantly based on appearance, he was also accused of being gay and he was taunted at school.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7220896.html Asher Brown

The next case was of Seth Walsh another 13-year-old boy who attempted to hang himself in his backyard, due to excessive bullying at his school. He was also bullied due to his sexual orientation.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20018025-504083.html Seth Walsh

The third case was of 15 year old Billy Lucas, he committed suicide because he was picked on and called names at school just because he was different. He was called names like “fag and queer” which led to him committing suicide.

http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-greensburg-student-suicide-091310,0,1101685.story Billy Lucas

The fourth and most recent case was of Tyler Clementi, and 18-year-old freshmen at Rutgers College. Tyler jumped off the George Washington bridge after he was taped having sex with another male and exposed all over the internet. His roommate secretly taped him and invaded his privacy then posted it all over the web. “A Rutgers University freshman posted a goodbye message on his Facebook page before jumping to his death after his roommate secretly filmed him during a "sexual encounter" in his dorm room and posted it live on the Internet.” (ABC News)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/victim-secret-dorm-sex-tape-commits-suicide/story?id=11758716 Tyler Clementi

The last gay suicide was 19-year-old Raymond Chase a student at Johnson and Wales hung himself in his dorm room, however his motives are not yet known.

Raymond Chase Photo

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/10/01/Suicide_Takes_Life_of_Gay_RI_Student/ Raymond Chase

These deaths range from middle school students to college students, student of all ages are being affected by bullying in school. This is an epidemic, it is not only affecting gay students however all students.

Two other cases have occurred this past year, suicides of two young girls. Once again ranging in all ages, starting with 13-year-old Hope Witsell who committed suicide after nude photos of her were spread around her school. After nude photos of her were exposed, she hung herself due to the embarrassment and harassment. “Her death is only the second known case of a suicide linked to bullying after “sexting.” (MSNBC)

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34236377/ns/today-today_people/ Hope Witsell

Not too long before another young girl hung herself due to the same thing. Jesse Logan sent nude pictures to her boyfriend however when they broke up he exposed her to the school, she then started to be harassed called “slut” and whore”. Sexting is a dangerous thing, its one thing to want to share things with someone you like; however, the consequences are far worse.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29546030/ns/today-parenting/ Jesse Logan

Students and faculty of schools need to be more aware, and proactive of the effects of bullying and what is really going on in school. The words you speak to others really do matter. Bullying is not just physical it is psychological and mental as well and has much more of an effect on students more then we think it does. We need to take action and put a stop to the cause of so many children’s deaths, it is an epidemic.

Sources:

http://www.pascack.k12.nj.us/70271919141818/lib/70271919141818/Bullying_Statistics.htm (Pascack)