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By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Mar 10 | A new national study by Iowa State researchers Warren Blumenfeld and Robyn Cooper has found that one out of every two lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied youths are regular victims of "cyberbullying," which causes psychological and emotional distress to victims -- producing thoughts of suicide in some who are repeatedly victimised.
"There's a saying that we've now changed to read, 'Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can kill,'" said Warren Blumenfeld, an Iowa State assistant professor of curriculum and instruction and the study's lead author. "And especially at this age -- pre-adolescence through adolescence -- this is a time when peer influences are paramount in a young person's life. If one is ostracized and attacked, that can have devastating consequences -- not only physically, but on their emotional health for the rest of their lives."
The results underscore the helplessness felt by victims of cyberbullying. Forty percent of the non-heterosexual respondents indicated that their parents wouldn't believe them if they were being bullied online, while 55 percent reported that their parents couldn't do anything to stop it. Fifty seven percent also indicated that they didn't think a school official could do anything to stop it.
"They feared that there might be more retribution by 'tattling,'" said Blumenfeld, who was bullied as a teen for being gay.
"One of the things we found is that the LGBT students really want to make a difference," said Cooper, who authored her doctoral dissertation on minority stress and the well-being of sexual minority college students. "They want their stories told. They want people to know what they're going through, but they don't want the repercussions of being bullied. So being able to respond to this survey was very helpful."
The ISU study also proposes strategies for cyberbullying prevention. Eighty percent of the survey's respondents indicated that their peers should do more to stop it.
"One of the strategies coming out of this study - since respondents expect and want their peers to step in more - is that we should find ways on our campuses to empower young people to speak up and act as allies," Blumenfeld said. "In bullying circles, it's empowering the bystander to become the upstander to help eliminate the problem."
Blumenfeld and Cooper recommend developing social norms programming at schools that focus on peer influences that correct misperceived societal norms.
One in four of the LGBT and allied students responded that they needed to learn how to deal with cyberbullying by themselves. More than half also feared telling their parents about the cyberbullying because they might restrict their use of technology, which Blumenfeld says is often the "lifeline to the outside world" for many young LGBT students who have been ostracized by their peers at school.
The study is being published in this month's special LGBT-themed issue of the International Journal of Critical Pedagogy, which is being released on Monday, March 15.
Robyn Cooper & Warren Blumenfeld Photo By Jaclyn Hansel
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I must be getting really old. Could someone please give me an example of cyberbullying - even a fictional one. This sounds like a very serious problem that must be addressed, but never having been exposed (even vicariously) to the phenomenon I can't imagine how it is, how it works.
J F R
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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Cyberbullying is using technology to leave hurtful or threatening text messages on mobile phones, social networking sites eg facebook etc. There have been several instances of teens commiting suicide after being subjected to cyberbullying in this country. Thankfully we didn't have to put up with this sort of bullying when we were growing up. It must be very devastating to check your messages to find a nasty remark on there, and it is happening to any kid who is old enough to use a mobile phone or computer.
Hope this gives you some clues JFR
Aussie
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Thank you, Aussie, for your most lucid explanation. This is indeed very serious. It seems to me that the problem needs to be tackled from both ends: there is the issue of the recipient of these scandalous and outrageous messages and there is the issue of the perpetrator. As far as the matter of the recipient is concerned it goes without saying that all mechanisms that exist for supporting the emotional wellbeing of gays must be alert to the problem and gays - especially young people - should be made aware of their availability.
But I think we need to 'educate' further: anyone who receives such a message on his or her mobile phone should immediately alert the police. It should not be too much of a problem for them to locate the origin of the message. The perpetrator can then be dealt with according to the law.
These are just my immediate thoughts on a matter that is entirely new to me. I offer them for comment and I am more than ready for them to be shot down. I am sure that there are others here who will have much better ideas.
J F R
P.S. I want to thank Brody for bringing this matter to our attention. It is for things like this, in particular, that his voice is so welcome here.
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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"This is indeed very serious" You are not wrong there JFR, but even the police are having trouble combatting it. Where does one draw the line between a bit of name calling and something more sinister. Either can have a devastating effect on the recipient and push them over the top.
I don't know what the answer is because even physical violence is on the increase and we now have 12 and 13 year olds carrying knives to school and there have been a few instances in tha last couple of months of school kids being stabbed to death. Google 'Elliot Fletcher' for more
I have to put a lot of the blame on a lack of discipline from the parents, teachers, police, courts etc. Violence also seems to be a way of life nowadays.
If you can come up with any answers I would be happy to hear them.
My 7 y/o grandaughter had to change schools this year because she was being bullied by a bigger girl and the school did nothing about it.
Aussie
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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The simplest and least highlighted is the sending of chain letters. "If you don't send this to 5 people within 2 hours your head will explode," that sort of trash. They mirror the paper chain letter. Some people find them terrifying.
The most hurtful is the mirroring of physical bullying. Threats, name calling, "Unless you to this, I will do that to you." that kind of trash. It takes a lot of determination to come through that unscathed.
The police are not interested unless a crime has been committed. A threat is a crime, but the police are still not interested in schoolyard threats. Schools are slow to awaken to cyberbullying. Some schools, like the school my son went to from age 4 to 13 state that there is no bullying, yet the head was the biggest of the bullies. Those schools will never act because bullying is endemic.
The cure for cyberbullying lies with the parents. It is not Someone Else's Problem, but belongs to the parents, both of the victim where they must provide support and insist on disciplinary action by schools, and of the bully where they must educate, guide and discipline the brat to see why the behaviour is unacceptable.
A national study is a useful tool because it shows whether this is widespread and a significant proboem, or whether the popular tabloid style media has found a new corpse to feed on in order to improve circulation figures and advertising revenues..
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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The teenage boy who damn near killed a girl in the USA reminded me of this thread. It wasn't that he was bullied, but he saw red and civilised and normal behaviour went out of the window. Still, at least his genes won't get passed on.
It reminds us that typed words are an imperfect(!) medium for personal communication, especially if you try to cram it in to 140 characters.
However "Text Rage" is worth looking at as an issue, though not necessarily as a follow up to the article on the assault, but as something that affects us all at some point or other.
[Updated on: Sun, 21 March 2010 22:57]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Iowa State University Conducts National Study on Cyberbullys 
