The homophobic bullying is any type of physical or verbal abuse carried out with the intention of doing harm, where there is an imbalance of power between the aggressor and the victim, and caused because the victim has a sexual orientation different from that expected socially.
The person who practices homophobic bullying usually tries to assert himself by causing harm to the other person, in this case to the victim in their own sexuality. The expression of this aggression implies the desire to partially destroy the other, eliminating all kinds of compassion and limits. In these cases, the abuse carried out by the aggressor is aimed at attacking the victim because of their sexual orientation.
Peers, that is, their peers, are usually aware of this situation and still allow it to happen. Sometimes, it is usually given behind the back of an adult who is completely unaware of it or who even minimizes the action and ignores it.
All these agents are collaborating with the aggressors and promoting the action by omission of action. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness in the educational community and the environment of young people as we will see later..
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Some characteristics that differentiate this type of bullying from the other forms of harassment that exist are:
In addition to the above, we can also find other important elements in common with other types of gender violence against women or workplace harassment.
Normally, this type of violence is usually carried out by people who feel they have a lot of power or are superior to their victims, who usually do not have the possibility of defending themselves.
During the history of humanity, different ways of understanding our body as well as sex and sexuality have prevailed and highlighted. This concept has been transformed to this day, thus prevailing heterosexuality over homosexuality.
The main cause of homophobic bullying is found in the way in which society interprets heterosexuality as the only accepted form of sexuality, and all sexual manifestations other than this as something not allowed.
The school, being the institution for the reproduction of culture par excellence, has an important role in the construction of the values of tolerance and respect, but also precisely because of its socializing role, it has to reproduce stereotypes and stigmas in the face of those considered different.
The factors that promote homophobic bullying are the following:
-Gender stereotypes. They are tasks that society and culture usually assign to women and men because they are of that sex.
-Prejudices are being opinions that are made before judging the evidence. If a person affirms that homosexuals are perverse and promiscuous, without knowledge on the subject, he will be incurring a prejudice and reproducing a stereotype.
-Discrimination and homophobia. Discrimination based on sexual orientation is the condition of exclusion that, based on ideas, myths and misinformation about sexual options other than heterosexuality, places people in a vulnerable situation.
In order to intervene in the face of homophobic bullying, it is important that sexual education is addressed both at home and at school, focusing on three aspects: content, attitudes and skills.
One may think that this would be enough, however, it is not so, since it has already been seen with other important issues such as sexually transmitted infections, where informative talks in schools do not work..
It is vital that information is provided about homosexuality, lesbianism and transsexuality as possible forms of sexual orientation or gender identity. It is also important that they are done in order to change the negative attitudes that may be had towards these groups.
In schools, we did not find information or references to sexuality. Lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality or transsexuality are not normally discussed.
This could lead to the thought that it is a subject that cannot be discussed, that is, a taboo subject, thus triggering negative thoughts and therefore that heterosexual values are the dominant ones. So from the schools without being aware, it is helping to maintain the discrimination that allows this type of bullying.
If schools want to reduce homophobic bullying, it should be addressed in a real way, with active policies that introduce a diverse sexual education in the curriculum, where everyone regardless of their gender identity and sexual orientation is reflected.
Some reasons to work in that direction are the following:
Finally, we have to say that not only should the school be in charge of fighting this type of bullying, but that the family also has an active role and we are responsible as parents..
Talking at home with young people from the time they are small is one of the first steps to contribute to a more tolerant society and as well as transmit values of respect towards this and other groups.
Society has a responsibility against bullying and homophobic bullying. We must reflect with ourselves on how we act and what we usually say about sexuality in order to analyze if we are unconsciously also collaborating in homophobic attitudes.
On the other hand, young people find themselves in a society with a lot of information thanks to new technologies, but they still do not have the capacity to be critical of them and they do not know who to ask for help since they are not receiving sex education from the schools, subject that they will not address at home because of the fear or shame they feel.
Therefore, we find that young people continue to have the problems they have always had, they do not know who to turn to to find out more about a specific topic in a world full of references to sexuality, consumption and sex.
As educational and family professionals we are responsible for providing the necessary information to young people, providing them with skills and resources so that they can face school bullying and homophobic bullying in order to reduce or alleviate it..
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