When a child becomes a bullying victim, they can find themselves suffering from significant consequences like feeling alone, embarrassed, and humiliated. Many targets do not tell a single person what is currently happening to them. So why do people keep quiet about being bullied? Below are some reasons why bullying victims could hesitate to admit they are being bullied at school, recess, or during extracurricular activities.
Embarrassed
Power and control are generally the causes for a bully to inflict on to a victim to make them feel in control over them. Being picked on may leave victims with a feeling of powerlessness or weakness. Talking about these feelings to others may make victims feel embarrassed. Therefore, they will avoid it.
It Will not Stop
Kids often feel like reporting a bully will not change anything. Instead, they think that it will make things worse. They would rather deal with it and wait out the storm before talking about it.
Endure it
Victims sometimes feel like they should accept the bullying to feel like they belong with the others. Therefore, they will accept their bullying as a means to sustain a social standing.
No One Will Believe Them
Bullies tend to target other vulnerable kids like loners, special needs, or people that others will not believe.
Snitching
Victims of bullying are often more afraid of being called a tattletale, a baby, a rat, or a snitch than they are about enduring more abuse.
They Deserve It
Children are very aware of their faults. When someone focuses on their faults and teases them, it is easy for a kid to assume that they deserve to get bullied for that fault.
Adults Will not Deal With It.
Bullying has become more of a concern that both parents and teachers are fighting to prevent; there is still a stigma to those suffering from bullying. This stigma creates a situation where kids will not tell adults, as they think they will be angry about enduring. They feel as though adults will contribute to the hurt the bullying is giving them.
No Internet? No Thanks.
In terms of cyberbullying, most kids will not say that they are being bullied in fear that their parents will prohibit further access to computers and cellphones.
This is terrible, as it sends the message that for one, it is not worth telling an adult that they are the target of cyberbullying. Also, it tells the child that they are to be blamed since they are being punished for being a victim.
Always be aware that any kid could be a target of bullying, no matter their current social status. Try to read the warning signs that your child may be giving you.
If your children confess to being a victim, reassure them, tell them you are proud that they talked to you. Avoid getting upset or angry, as this will only confuse and stress out the child. Instead, stay calm and come up with a game plan with your child. When a child can feel that they have a strong emotional/physical support from their parents, it may give them the strength they need to be a victim of this horrible phenomenon no longer. Lastly, please do something about it. Help your child overcome these trying times. It is your duty as a parent to do anything to protect your children.
