As celebrities worldwide rally around nine-year-old bullying victim, Quaden Bayles who suffers from Dwarfism and  whose video went viral, a report has also emerged in the local media revealing over 500 cases of bullying in schools in Malta during 2019. These two news items have once again brought to the surface the stark reality of bullying. Bullying should be seen in the wider cultural context of abuse in an effort to help the victims. This feature highlights and examines one particular form of abuse − bullying, its causes and some remedies to combat it on the workplace, school and other places.

Bullying is usually defined as a person (or even a group of persons) being exposed to physical, mental, emotional aggression which is repeated and includes name-calling, mockery, threats, harassment, taunting, hazing, trolling, social exclusion and rumours, among others. Bullying is not only explicit and clear but can take subtle forms.

In society we find many forms of abuse against persons and animals (both domestic and savage). Some of the familiar words we hear or read about concerning abuse in its different forms are harassment, stalking, hazing and domestic violence (both physical and emotional abuse).

As the cases of domestic and other forms of violence continue to rise in frequency and gravity, stakeholders should not only strengthen education and awareness of this sad reality but also synergise together as brothers and sisters in arms to combat all forms of violence against men, women, children and even animals in the most effective way.

Bullying does not respect social, cultural, economic, religious or political boundaries and no one is spared. It can also assume a sinister cultural and  institutionalised form.

Animal Abuse

The victims are male and female, sick and healthy, young and old and even animals. For instance, the Animal Welfare Act, 2002 contemplates fines of between  €1,000 and €55,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment for first time offenders in animal cruelty. These deterrents in the protection of the  animal kingdom are to be commended big time.  But let us not forget the human person.

Living in a culture of bullying

Historically speaking, bullying has existed since time immemorial as social phenomenon, but its prevention and treatment as a social malaise is only fairly decades old. In Western society, bullying, in the recent past was, by and large, seen as part of the normal growth process and a “normal” child experience; hence part of the development of a child’s character. But hardly any reference was made to the psychological scars the person endures until dealth as a result of bullying.

Perhaps, more than ever, awareness, prevention strategies and action on bullying situations are becoming ever-increasingly evident due to the serious mental and physical problems it brings. What seemed to be tolerated in the past is becoming a no go.

It is unfortunate that while measures to address bullying are taking place, society is in an opposite and more than equal way bombarding our young up-and-coming citizens with much food for thought to bully others. For instance, the Maltese Ġaħan character as portrayed in children’s books is a daft, simple-minded person who everyone can have a go at and pull one out on him for kicks. Such a narrative is conducive to bullying. 

Writers of school books should stay clear from putting such long-standing folklore characters that indirectly instil a culture of bullying and victimisation on those who have some sort of special need or learning difficulties, as portrayed in the Ġaħan culture.

Bullying is also  part of the big entertainment industry’s cult of recreation. Computer games and even cartoon characters are all wrought with the macho male (and  now also increasinly female) figure and his/her victim/s. Unwittingly or through some hidden agenda, the film and software industry is socialising and exposing our young blood to violence and dominance behaviour in all its sexist and chauvenistic manifestations.

Some argue that this is necessary as it will bring out the best and strongest  in our society as part of the  fight for survival and self-preservation among nations. This is very similar to the animal kingdom’s rule and law of the jungle.

Despite this, agencies such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child and the World Health Organization are in the forefront to bring to light measures how to combat the social scourge of bullying.

Bullying turns the environment where it takes place into a living hell for the person suffering the abuse. It is conducive to mental and physical problems such as contemplation of suicide and even attempts or the actual commission of suicide.

Workplace

At the workplace, bullying does not come only from peers but also from top management.    Some forms of occurrences at the workplace include unjustified removal of responsibilities, withholding unjustly promotions and pay rises and constant monitoring of work and social isolation.

It would be wise for a worker who feels bullied to seek advice, by contacting the Directorate of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER), which is situated in Merchants Street, Valletta.

Also some workplaces have a Code of Conduct and an anti-bullying policy plus disciplinary measures against bullying. Large organisations have clauses on bullying included as measures as part of the Collective Agreements negotiated between employers, workers and Trade Unions. Some large firms also provide counselling services to their staff.

Patients’ charter

If a patient feels that he/she was abused by his/her consultant or other medical or paramedical staff, he/she can consult the Patient charter at the Ministry of Health, on the rights and responsibilities of patients. Also hospitals have customer care desks where to place any complaint on such matters.

Youths

Young people can refer to Helpline 179 and also kellimni.com made available by SOS Malta.   Kellimni.com is an online support service run by trained staff and volunteers reachable through email, chat and smart messaging 24/7 for support. You can find out more information, advice and access support through the website http://kellimni.com/.

Youths are especially exposed to cyberbullying.  Cyberbullying  is even more harmful to young people than face-to-face bullying for a number of reasons:

• Permanence: The insults, comments or images can be preserved by the person who was bullied or by others so that the victim may read or view them over and over again and the harm is re-inflicted with each reading or viewing.
• Audience size: The size of the audience that is able to view or access the damaging material increases the victim’s humiliation.
• Familiarity: Many young people are friends with or know their cyber bully either through school or other personal connections, increasing the potential for embarrassment and humiliation.
• Social Networking: Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace allow cyber bullies to engage in campaigns against a particular person which may involve many others.
• Speed: The speed at which harmful messages can reach large audiences also plays a major part in making cyberbullying so damaging to the targets.

School Anti-Bullying Service

This service is aimed to support the various efforts already made in schools, in dealing with bullying incidents. The team organises awareness sessions to school staff and parents. The team works hand in hand with the school staff members and other professionals who work both within the colleges and outside agencies. Students from Year 1 to Form 5 are eligible.
A referral form is filled in by the head of school or by his/her delegate or the guidance teacher that needs to refer a student to this service.

Information campaigns, prevention and healing processes towards bullying and other forms of abuse are never enough. It would be wise for the person suffering the abuse to seek professional advice from the agencies mentioned above and keep a journal or diary of the occurrences of bullying  as evidence to produce in order to combat this social disease.