October is Bullying Prevention Month, and we're digging into a topic rarely discussed in mainstream conversations about bullying - the connection between domestic abuse and bullying.🔗
Over the past few decades, there has been increasing awareness of the devastating effects of bullying in schools, online, and in the general public. Simultaneously, the issue of domestic violence has gained prominence due to its far-reaching impact on all parties involved. As well as many studies on preventative methods to address this incredibly complex and systemic crisis. 🚫
Statistics are Alarming 😮
Clear statistics demonstrate that both domestic violence and school bullying are significant issues affecting numerous people.According to the National Bullying Prevention Center, 20% of students ages 12-18 report being bullied during the school year. This means that approximately 5.4 million students are bullied in the US each year. 📈
Additionally, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. This means that approximately 38.3 million people in the US have experienced domestic abuse. And 75% of domestic violence victims are women. These are sobering numbers.📊
The Cycle of Violence 🔄
- Bullying and domestic violence are both forms of violence with severe, potentially life-threatening consequences, especially for children and women.
- Despite both being considered crimes, law enforcement typically focuses on domestic violence, bullying at school is often dealt with using various school policies. Other forms of bullying often end up shrugged off or ignored leading to greater problems in future - at home or at school. 🏡🏫
- Children may unknowingly replicate domestic violence behaviors they witness at home in their school environments. 🏫
The Parallels Between School Bullying and Domestic Violence
There is literally no difference in the abusive actions that can take place in both bullying and domestic violence. This is a high level overview, you should research and talk to a professional for a more comprehensive list.
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Physical abuse - Both involve physical aggression, such as hitting, pushing, hair pulling, punching, and more. 💥
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Verbal abuse - Both include screaming, yelling, insults, name-calling, abusive language, gaslighting, coersion, threats, and more. 🤬
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Non-verbal abuse - Both encompass behaviors like threats, ignoring, isolating, manipulation, and other methods of controlling behavior. 🙎
- Financial control - This can be present in both school age bullying and adult domestic violence situations. 🤑
Breaking the Cycle 🔄
- Children who witness or are victims of domestic violence or bullying without intervention are more likely to normalize and perpetuate these behaviors later in life. 😔
- Effective treatment and intervention at the school level, including trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, can prevent the continuation of negative power and control-focused relationships in adulthood. 👩❤️👨💑👩❤️👩
- Parents, guardians, and loved ones are powerful role models for their children, and children often mimic their parents' behavior. Witnessing domestic violence can normalize violence within the family and school environments, leading to an endless cycle of violence. 💔
- Restorative justice, when applied within schools and communities, can resolve bullying conflicts more effectively and break the continuing cycle between domestic violence and bullying. ❤️🩹
- Arts programs are proven effective in helping to curb and diffuse issues of violence and help facilitate better communication. 🎨🎭
- Studies have shown that mental health therapy and programs can reduce domestic violence recidivism 50-70% and reduce bullying between 20-40% 📉
It's crucial to recognize the inextricable link between domestic violence and bullying and to promote restorative justice and other as a means of breaking this cycle. 🌱
It's time to acknowledge that domestic abuse is bullying, and by addressing it holistically, we can work toward a safer, more compassionate future for all. 🤝🌈
Stay tuned for more in this series as we dig deeper into strategies to combat bullying and violence to promote a culture of empathy and understanding to solve a problem and get the statistics moving in the opposite direction. 🗣️
NOTE: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or bullying, please seek help by contacting a medical or mental health professional or the proper authorities. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988. #YouMatter You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.
Additional reading and resources:
- From Bullying to Domestic Violence (DomesticShelters.org article)
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The Connection Between Domestic Violence and Bullying (Youth Crisis Center article)
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How The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Impact Cyberbullying (Bark Blog article - video included on page)
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Violence in the home leads to higher rates of childhood bullying (University of Washington article)
- Bullying and Violence Prevention (CDC website resources)
