Bullying is defined as the repetitive, intentional harming of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power.

Bullying is, therefore:

• Deliberately hurtful
• Repeated, often over a period of time
• Difficult to defend against

We use ‘STOP’ (Several Times On Purpose’– ‘STOP’ (Start Telling Other People) to educate students.

Bullying can include:

Emotional

Being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting, ignoring etc.

Physical

Hitting, kicking, pushing, taking another’s belongings, any use of violence, unwanted physical contact, intimidation.

Prejudice-based and discriminatory

• Racial
• Faith-based
• Gendered (sexist)
• Homophobic/biphobic
• Transphobic
• Disability-based

Taunts, gestures, graffiti or physical abuse focused on a particular characteristic (e.g. gender, race, sexuality, disability etc.) Prejudicial bullying includes all protected characteristics.

Racial: Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures. Hostility, over questioning, racist language, stereotyping, lack of respect or anything that the targeted individual or others perceive to be racist.

Sexist jokes, sexist name calling, rumour spreading, stereotyping, lack of respect or anything that the targeted individual or others perceive to be sexist.

Bullying related to sexual orientation: homophobic, biphobic, transphobic

e.g. Name calling, language, questions (e.g., why can’t you be normal? Casual use of “that’s so gay”).

Taunts, graffiti, gestures. Hostility, over questioning, language, stereotyping, lack of respect or anything that the targeted individual or others perceive to be homophobic, biphobic or transphobic.

Sexual

Explicit sexual remarks, display of sexual material, sexual gestures, unwanted physical attention, comments about sexual reputation or performance, invasion of personal space, graffiti or inappropriate touching.

Direct or indirect verbal

Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing.

Direct or indirect verbal

Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing.

Cyber-bullying

Bullying that takes place online, such as through social networking sites, messaging apps or gaming sites. Any type of bullying described above that takes place online.