A Quick Guide to Understanding the 5 Common Types of Bullying
A breakdown of 5 of the most common types of bullying
Harassment refers to a form of discrimination that involves any unwanted verbal or physical behavior that would make a person feel offended, humiliated, or intimidated. In most cases, bullying is a type of conduct that will persist over a period of time, but sometimes it can also be a serious one-time incident. The causes and forms of bullying are extensive and complex. Most people face different types of bullying on a daily basis, but refuse to speak up or oppose this type of behavior. It is important for each individual to be aware of her surroundings and have an idea of the various types of bullying she may face. Here are 5 of the most common types of bullying that people face on a daily basis.
sexual harassment
This type of harassment refers to any type of unwanted sexual advances, teasing of a sexual nature, requests for sexual favors in exchange for a promotion in the workplace or a positive academic evaluation. They can be physical, verbal, or written advances that could be labeled inappropriate or vulgar. Sexual harassment can happen anywhere, but most often in the workplace and schools. It includes the violation of a person’s personal space and can cause severe mental trauma to the victim.
Racial Harassment
If an individual or group is discriminated against because of their color, race, national origin, ethnic or regional origin, it can be called racial harassment. It can also relate to judgment based on clothing of a certain origin, speaking with a different accent, and practicing a certain religion. The victim of racial discrimination is often singled out from a group and humiliated because of her background. This type of behavior is often displayed in the workplace, school, or the place where you live.
Workplace Harassment
Workplace harassment refers to offensive, threatening or insulting behavior to which an individual worker or a group of workers is subjected. It includes attempts to undermine the value of a worker with the intent to cause embarrassment and humiliation. Workplace harassment can be of two types; one is called ‘quid pro quo’ (this for that) harassment, which refers to unwanted sexual advances or requests for sexual favors by mostly supervisors who have formal decision-making authority. The second is called hostile work environment harassment and refers to unwanted or aggressive conduct by co-workers, supervisors, contractors, or anyone else with whom you interact at work. This pattern of behavior can make the workplace atmosphere unhealthy, threatening, and hostile.
police harassment
This type of harassment refers to unfair treatment and aggressive behavior by police, including, but not limited to, excessive use of force, false arrests, profiling, unjustified police shooting, and coercion. These illegal actions carried out by police officers lead to miscarriages and obstruction of justice. It is the duty of the police force to safeguard citizens and enforce the law, but when the authority given to them is abused, it can prove catastrophic. The victim of police harassment can suffer severe physical and psychological trauma and lose faith in the judicial system.
online bullying
Directing derogatory comments on online platforms such as chat rooms, social networking sites, and hate mail directed at an individual or group is collectively known as online bullying. Acts like stealing photos of a person, manipulating them in an offensive way, and posting them on social media also fall under this category of harassment. These kinds of actions threaten to ruin many people’s reputations, causing them to have a mental breakdown. Even cyber bullying and bullying are a major concern of late and define the online experience of many web users.
Any type of harassment can severely affect the lives of the victims. Therefore, it is time to educate ourselves and fight against this type of behavior. It is the responsibility of each individual to take care of themselves and the people around them.