Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Health and Human Services

Racism was the social issue I chose to discuss. Racism, according to the dictionary, is the belief that one race is superior or inferior to another (Merriam-Webster, 2019). For centuries, racism has been a major issue in American history. Racism has been the catalyst for some of our country’s most heinous crimes throughout its long history. From slavery to systemic racism, many African Americans face racism on a daily basis. Racial tensions are now associated with everything from major national events to everyday occurrences. According to NBC, “four out of every ten African Americans say they’ve been treated unfairly in a store or restaurant because of their race,” compared to a quarter of Hispanics and only 7% of whites (NBC News, 2018). Because minorities have been subjected to racism at alarming rates throughout history, it has evolved over time, limiting education and job opportunities, as well as affecting the health and wellness of minorities across the country.

Racism is a major issue in many local communities, affecting things like community health, the economy, the workplace, schools, law enforcement officials, and the judicial system. When any aspect of a person’s life is met with prejudice, it causes a slew of other problems. For example, if an African American or Hispanic American committed robbery because they couldn’t find a decent-paying job to support their family, they would be arrested. When they are arrested, they will almost certainly be charged with a more severe and unreasonable sentence than people from non-minority groups. According to the United States Sentencing Commission, African Americans received 10% longer sentences than whites in the federal system for the same crimes in 2010. (DoSomething.org). When communities lack the necessary resources as a result of not being provided with equal educational or job opportunities, these communities develop problems because a lack of opportunity has a direct impact on the people in the affected community.

Racism is a global issue, not just a local social problem. Racism is a problem that affects countries all over the world, not just the United States. Institutional racism is racism that is spread through political and social institutions. The Middle East crisis is one example of this. For many years, Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting over land and who has the right to live on that land. We’ve heard about all the violence between both parties in the news over the last few years. When all of the facts are laid out, it is clear that the Middle East conflict is racially motivated, as many Palestinians are killed every day at the hands of Israelis and their government. This government does nothing to safeguard them. Racism is not only found in other countries. It can be found in every corner of the globe. Africa is primarily populated by Black people. However, due to apartheid, which began in 1948, South Africa has many places that are still segregated even today.

Because of recent events, I chose racism for this project. I was in a local store when I became involved in an argument with a man and was called some VERY derogatory names. Racism is clearly a problem that still exists today. Worse, some of it is coming directly from our Commander in Chief himself. The President spews hateful and ignorant rhetoric in the hopes of swaying those who share his beliefs. Our President’s views, as well as his vocalizations on the subject, have led those who share his racist ideologies to believe that it is acceptable to treat minorities in this manner. It is unacceptable for the United States to continue to deal with this specific social issue in this day and age because, under God and the law, we are all the same.

“Global news shows that bullying and cyberbullying issues aren’t just making national headlines; they’re a serious global problem.” (myknowledgebroker.com). UNICEF recently conducted a poll involving over 100,000 young people from various countries to assess the impact of bullying on their daily lives and communities. This poll “reaches people between the ages of 13 and 30 from developing regions,” according to unicefstories.org. Uganda, Senegal, Liberia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Mali, Guinea, and Zambia were among the countries represented. “Ireland was the only developed country polled.” (unicefstories.org). According to the same poll, many respondents said they were bullied because of their physical [appearance. Furthermore, according to UNICEF, African countries have the highest bullying rates among the top ten countries.

I am from Illinois. Schools in Illinois are required by law to keep records of any bullying incidents. Every school, public or private, must have an anti-bullying policy and reporting procedure. (stopbullying.gov). This appears to be the general rule across the United States, with little variation. Furthermore, all public and private schools in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are required to have anti-bullying or behavior policies in place. The similarities between bullying in the United States and other countries are startling. Bullying in other countries, as well as in the United States, includes, but is not limited to, physical appearance, race/ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and disability, according to pacer.org.

Many children and teenagers are being bullied these days, not only at school but also at home. They run the risk of being cyberbullied every time they log into their social media accounts. Bullying has increased in recent years, in my opinion, as a result of globalization. At one time, the only way for a bully to be a bully was to resort to physical and verbal violence. Bullying was easy to detect with this type of violence. It is much more difficult to detect in this day and age because schools do not monitor students’ social media sites. Many children do not understand that anything posted online does not disappear. EVER! That being said, by the time an adult becomes aware of online bullying, the damage has already been done. The interactionist theory, in my opinion, is the most appropriate theoretical perspective for this issue. Especially when it comes to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying occurs on the internet, and the internet is littered with warning signs. This is why, as parents, we must stop worrying about our children’s privacy and instead become “all up in their business,” particularly when it comes to social media.

If you are the victim of bullying, one possible solution is to tell the bully to stop and leave you alone. Get away from the situation and inform a trusted adult. Don’t be a bystander if you see someone being bullied. Tell the bully to stop, find a trusted adult, reach out to the bullied person, and become friends. There is comfort in numbers. All of the policies that states and countries have in place may not be as effective. I say these are unsuccessful because, in this day and age, the majority of bullying that children face does not occur at school, let alone on school grounds. The bullies are hiding behind a computer screen at home. As a response to the bullying problem, I believe that programs should begin with small children, explaining the effects of bullying on both the bully and the victim. Another option, as previously stated, is to get involved in our children’s businesses. Monitor their social media sites so that if anything is discovered, the school is made aware of the situation.

References

6 illuminating facts that prove bullying is a global issue. (n.d.). Retrieved June 6, 2019, from http://unicefstories.org/2016/08/12/6-illuminating-facts-that-prove-bullying-is-a-global-issue/ Bullying Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved June 6, 2019, from https://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/stats.asp

Center, R. (n.d.). Bullying is a Global Concern. Retrieved June 6, 2019, from https://www.myknowledgebroker.com/blog/business-insurance/schools/bullying-is-a-global- concern/

StopBullying.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved June 6, 2019, from https://www.stopbullying.gov/ Arenge, A., Perry, S., & Clark, D. (2019, May 22). Poll: 64 percent of Americans say racism remains a major problem. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics- news/poll-64-percent-Americans-say-racism-remains-major-problem-n877536

Racism. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism 11 Facts About Racial Discrimination. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-racial-discrimination

Graham, D. A., Green, A., Murphy, C., & Richards, P. (2019, May 20). An Oral History of Trump’s Bigotry. Retrieved May 22, 2019, from https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/06/trump-racism-comments/588067/

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1.  Liset

Stopbullying.gov is an online platform developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to prevent and treat bullying. The website offers a wealth of resources for parents, educators, and adolescents on how to avoid and successfully respond to bullying. The Bullying Prevention Training Module, a free online training course targeted at educators, is one of the resources offered on the website. The lesson gives an introduction to bullying and its impacts, prevention techniques, and advice on how to respond to bullying events. The Bullying Prevention Fact Sheet is another resource on the website that gives an overview of the bullying problem, including information on prevalence, risk factors, and repercussions. The fact sheet also explains how to spot the indications of bullying, how to prevent bullying, and how to properly respond to it.

Department of Health and Human Services

The resources provided by stopbullying.gov for parents are comprehensive and aim to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to support their children who may be experiencing bullying. The Parent Guide, for example, provides practical advice on how to talk to children about bullying and how to recognize the signs that a child may be experiencing bullying. Additionally, the guide provides tips on how to communicate effectively with school officials and work collaboratively with other parents to prevent bullying. These resources can be invaluable for parents who may feel unsure about how to approach the issue of bullying with their children and how to advocate for their child’s well-being in the school environment.

The resources provided by stopbullying.gov for youth who have been bullied are diverse and tailored to different needs. The It Gets Better Project, for example, is an initiative that aims to provide encouragement and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth who may be facing bullying. The project features videos and stories from individuals who have overcome adversity and found happiness and success in life. Additionally, the website provides information on hotlines and support groups that youth can reach out to for immediate help and guidance. These resources can be crucial for youth who may feel isolated or helpless in the face of bullying, providing them with a sense of community and hope for the future. In conjunction to these resources, the website offers to advice on how to build a safe and supportive school climate, as well as how to develop and execute effective bullying-prevention school policies. The website also explains how to collaborate with neighborhood groups and other stakeholders to avoid bullying and promote good youth development.

Lastly, the website includes resources for academics and policymakers, such as connections to studies on bullying prevention and information on federal and state bullying prevention regulations. These materials can aid in the creation of successful methods for avoiding bullying and assisting bullied kids. Ultimately, stopbullying.gov provides an extensive array of materials for avoiding bullying and aiding mistreated children. These tools are intended to be user-friendly and accessible, and they may be used by parents, educators, and adolescents to address the issue of bullying and its effects.

Reference

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). (2022, October 12). Stop Bullying Home Page. StopBullying.gov. https://www.stopbullying.gov/

2. Livan

Bullying among children who share different settings such as schools or neighborhoods where they live is a present issue in current life with a tendency to increase reports of cases that have had serious consequences and even suicide in children and adolescents. Many studies worldwide try to find the causes of this type of behavior that affects children and their families so much, most of these investigations agree that the cruel behaviors present in some young people and children are of multifactorial origin, many related to situations experienced in the family environment such as violence, parental divorce, abandonment or lack of family attention to their children and even the uncontrolled and unsupervised use of technology, widely accessible audiovisual materials on internet platforms not suitable for minors age or video games where violence is explicit. The truth is that we are facing a real problem of coexistence with catastrophic results for the victims who may present serious mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, insecurity and fear, school rejection, and even suicide. (Cowie, H. 2021)

Addressing a case of intimidation implies the evaluation of both the harasser and his victim; both personalities require attention and professional evaluation. While the harasser can escalate to aberrational and even criminal social behaviors, her victims can grow up as depressed, insecure, and psychologically damaged people that interfere in both their family and professional lives. (Downes, P. 2022)

The most important point right now is prevention. Avoiding bullying is an obvious need and this implies the collaboration of teachers, parents, and other factors in the community. Many actions and measures are put into practice with different results and impacts but all with their advantages. Talk about the subject with the students, show its consequences, and do group activities always with supervision. Identify both bullies and their victims. Be aware of the most difficult cases to identify, such as mockery without physical aggression. Early identification of young people with potential personalities and traits to be abused, such as those who are part of the LGTB community, immigrants, or those with low economic resources. (Foody, M. et al. 2019) Teach, and educate children and their parents on the subject, and guide them on the importance of asking for help, how to do it, and who to go to. Parents must learn to listen to their children and show support and trust. Monitor their school progress and behavior. It is important to instill in children that revenge is not a way, that running away from dangerous situations can save your life, or that feelings can be expressed without aggression. Safety in schools and the work being supervised by teachers and caregivers must be strict. Homes and schools must work together in this scenario and learn about the many organizations that exist to help eradicate this harsh reality. Put into practice the keys to preventing bullying, which consist of establishing rules, recognizing, and identifying potential bullies and their victims, responding with specific actions, and publicly rejecting those behaviors to create an anti-bullying culture in the school environment. (Keating, S. et al. 2021)

References

Cowie, H. (2021). Peer support schemes. In P. K. Smith & J. O’Higgins Norman (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of bullying: A Comprehensive and International Review of research and Intervention (pp. 317-332).

Downes, P. (2022). Framing early school leaving and bullying prevention as issues of concentric inclusive systems in a global context. In R. Baikady, S. M. Sajid, J. Przeperski, & M. R. Islam (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of global social problems. Palgrave Macmillan.

Foody, M., McGuire, L., Kuldas, S., & O’Higgins Norman, J. (2019). Friendship quality and gender differences in association with cyberbullying involvement and psychological well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(1723), 1–13.

Keating, S., & Collins, B. (2021). Bullying prevention through curriculum and classroom resources. In P. K. Smith & J. O’Higgins Norman (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of bullying: A Comprehensive and international review of research and intervention (pp. 278-302).