#DayOfPink: Stacey and J Sbu mark chat about the devastating impact bullying has
The 14th of April marks Day Of Pink, a day that is for raising awareness against Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Transmisogyny across the world.
In marking the day, Stacey and J Sbu wanted to focus on bullying that has been the reason for the devastating loss this week of a Limpopo, grade ten student at Mbilwi High School in Thohoyandou.
READ: ‘Bullied’ Grade 10 pupil dies in Limpopo
The reported bullying of the student was captured on a video that made the rounds on social media on Tuesday. The girl is believed to subsequently have committed suicide.
The East Coast Radio News Watch Team reported that in a statement, the Department of Education in Limpopo confirmed the incident took place at the school on Monday. In the video, other learners can be heard in the background cheering the perpetrator, who is also a Grade 10 female learner.
Stacey and J Sbu like many other South Africans were outraged by this tragic story.
Bullying is not however restricted to the classroom, many of us experience bullying in adult life. Whether it be online, at home, your place of work or in your social circle almost everyone has a story.
READ: Stacey Norman speaks out against cyberbullying on ‘Expresso Show’
Perhaps one can make the comment that bullying that is experienced from those whom we have personal relationships with may be the hardest to confront.
We are affected not only emotionally but at times physically by bullying. Whether it is from physical injury, social problems experienced, emotional problems and as was the case with the Grade 10 Limpopo student, even in death. Bullying can also cause long-term damage to one's self-esteem.
Stacey and J Sbu contacted Clinical Psychologist, Nozie Nyawose to elaborate a little bit further on this, listen below:
During the show, Stacey and J Sbu received an influx of messages on the subject matter.
First up was Chris who shared how she was bullied for her weight and it all began when she was still in school:
The team then heard from Bianca who is a mom of a young baby boy- Bianca's son was bullied in school by a fellow student at his school. The boy was a bit older than her son- even though Bianca was outraged and upset that her son was being bullied, upon investigation- she made a revealing discovery:
Stacey has personal first-hand experience on bullying as an adult.
Late last year, Stacey was cyber bullied on the East Coast Radio Facebook page, this stemmed from a picture that was shared on social media of Stacey. A discussion on whether she should get a nose ring or not turned ugly when some users made hurtful comments about her appearance.
Stacey, was incredibly hurt and chose to use the disappointing situation as an educational moment. She addressed the matter on social media and then took to her favourite outlet - the airwaves.
A very hurt Stacey went on-air and addressed the matter. Listen to the full podcast below:
After that emotional week of dealing with cyberbullies, Stacey shared her story on national television on The Expresso Show, if you missed that interview, you can watch it below:
J Sbu, has also had his own experiences of being bullied, he shares the following:
For most of my life transitioning from one school to the next, I was bullied, I didn't really know why but along the way it became normal to me. Like, this was something that all school kids experience. I was bullied so much so that I almost knew what form of bullying would be on my plate each day of the school week. On Monday , it was my peanut butter sandwich being snatched from me , Tuesdays was- public name calling day - "khanda khulu, Sqemeza and everything about my rugby shaped head", Wednesdays were chilled, just a few slaps in the morning, and oh I loved Thursdays- sports day, no harm to the body day , just had to make sure I passed the ball to my bully every time I got it during PE or else I'd be tripped even if we were playing for the same team. Fridays was the weirdest day, never knew whether he'd be absent or not but when he was , oh boy oh boy did I not live my full day bullying other kids from the grade below. I guess it's TRUE what they say, hurt people hurt people.
It is said that children and adolescents who are bullies are at increased risk for substance use, academic problems, and violence to others later in life.
NICHD ( National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) research studies show that anyone involved with bullying—those who bully others, those who are bullied, and those who bully and are bullied—are at increased risk for depression.
NICHD-funded research studies also found that un like traditional forms of bullying, younger people who are bullied electronically are at higher risk for depression than the youth who bully them.
Dayofpink.org believes that small acts of activism can have a big impact on the culture and society. By simply sharing anti bullying content on line, making donations to anti bullying bodies and wearing pink on the Day Of Pink- will help in spreading the message to further efforts to end bullying.
Watch the video below:
If you are someone you know is in need of support because of bullying, please reach out to these avenues:
Image courtesy of Pexels.
If you missed the full show- catch up on the full hour content piece in the podcast below: