Victimization vs. Bullying

A USA Today article features Espelage co-led, a group of researchers that worked for a year to produce a new primer on bullying. From their research, Espelage suggests that if schools want to do a more efficient job to end bullying they should stop using the term “bullying” in schools. The basis of the article summarizes that the word bullying is used loosely and has obscured the ability to focus on what is actually happening to children.
Espelage is pushing for schools to use the term “victimization” rather than bullying with the idea that kids are simply being victimized, a situation far more serious the definition of bullying--which can range anywhere from an eye roll to sexual assault. Espelage is trying to make a distinct difference between what an eye roll should be labeled as versus something such as sexual assault. If someone rolled their eyes at you, you probably wouldn’t define yourself as victimized. But what if you were sexually assaulted? That is a much more drastic scenario in which perhaps Espelage makes a good point in distinguishing that is beyond “bullying” and in fact, “victimization”.

To read more click here