On February 22, people across Canada will be donning pink shirts to recognize Pink Shirt Day, a national event dedicated to raising awareness about bullying.
There have been several instances in my life where I have experienced some form of bullying. However, I have mostly experienced exclusive bullying from friend groups throughout my life.
Canadian children and youth face a myriad of complex and inter-related environmental factors that shape their opportunities and outcomes. One of the factors that unnecessarily limits their health and educational success is bullying. Pink Shirt Day is a day to spread awareness and practice kindness.
What do you think about when you hear the word “bullying”? I think that many people probably find themselves imagining a classic school scenario, where you’re being beat up for lunch money, the jock of the school threatening you with a defiant punch in the face and maybe a scared group of kids slyly turning their backs off to the side. We are educated in schools about what it means to be a bully, and how to react as a bystander (don’t stand by), but do people know about the effects of bullying and the subconscious actions which sometimes hurt even more?
