While it’s no secret that bullying is a horrible experience for anyone who has endured it, girls are more likely to be bullied than boys, according to a survey conducted by english schools. While bullying seems omnipresent throughout schools, social media, and other social situations, it can often seem as though there’s no escaping it. Whether you’re getting bullied for your style, the clothes you wear, or for seemingly nothing at all, there is a way to persevere.

Knowing the facts

With 3.2 million students falling victim to bullying each year, it’s clear that bullying is a major problem. However, bullying isn’t limited to just the classroom, or to students. Bullying can be found everywhere, including office settings –that’s right, adults get bullied too. What most people don’t know about bullying is that it isn’t just the stereotypical “give me your lunch money” harassment that we all see on TV–in fact, bullying can take many forms, and it’s important to recognize them.

The many forms of bullying

Verbal bullying is perhaps one of the most common amongst girls, from snide remarks to flat out rude comments, it can be one of the easiest ways for a bully to get to someone.

In today’s day and age of tech, it’s possible for verbal bullying to translate to the screen. Cyberbullying can take form in hostile posts and comments, and is considered one of the easiest ways for someone to bully, as they can hide behind a screen as they do it. Cyberbullying is also one of the more serious forms of bullying, as it can be relentless and strike 24/7. Hurtful comments, text messages, posts, and videos can drive someone to want to shut off their phones entirely.

Other forms of bullying can involve physical harassment. Physical harassment is what it sounds like, and can involve fist fights, punching, kicking, screaming, and more. Hair pulling and slapping can also be common. Furthermore, it’s important to keep in mind that physical bullying isn’t just “beating up” someone, but can also include damaging one’s property as well.

While bullying between girls is often referred to as “drama”, it’s necessary that it be called what it is–which is bullying. Bullying isn’t just for boys, and it isn’t just “girls being girls”. Bullying is a serious issue that can leave lasting physical and mental effects on those who go through it, and it’s important that we recognize this in order to put a stop to it.

The physical and mental effects

While teasing and “making fun” of someone might seem harmless to some, the impact of bullying can have a serious mental, and even physical impact on any girl regardless of age. Ruthless teasing can make the victim feel self conscious, and can even lead to further issues with self esteem. Severe bullying can even leave someone with varying degrees of depression, and major amounts of stress and anxiety. While therapy can help those who have been bullied, the impact is still there and can be everlasting for some girls. Physical effects can also be present–from bruises to anything as severe as broken bones, the physical effects a bully can have on someone just goes to show how serious it can be.

What to do about it

While there is no excuse for a bully’s behavior, it is important to remember that they may have a reason for acting the way they are. It isn’t uncommon for people to take out their personal frustrations and anger out on someone through the form of bullying, so keeping in mind that they may have something going on at home or in their personal lives can help you to understand them a bit better. It’s also necessary to keep in mind that you didn’t do anything wrong for the bully to treat you this way.

While it can be difficult to just “ignore the situation,” it may at times work. Name calling may go away if ignored, as bullies might not get satisfaction if their actions don’t get a rise out of someone. However, bullying does need to be brought to the attention of an older adult or someone in charge in any situation, as telling someone is oftentimes one of the first steps to stopping a bully. Even if you’re not the one getting bullied, helping someone out by speaking up can be a great way to help the situation. Other resolutions can involve blocking the bully on social media in the event of cyberbullying, and confidently standing up to them, and letting them know that you’re not okay with their behavior.

Be kind

With all of the bullying, hostility, exclusion, teasing, and taunting going around, it’s important to remember to be kind and stay true to yourself while also spreading the message of kindness. If everyone takes a stand against bullying, it can become quite possible that one day it will cease to exist.