This post follows my more recent posting of bullying in general. This post specifically looks at bullying due to one's perceived or actual sexual orientation.
The link to the story is below:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/12/us/minneapolis-bullying-schools/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is completed nationally every two years by the CDC. Click the link below to gain access to the 2009 results:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf ;
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p0606_yrbsurvey.html?s_cid=2011_p0606_yrbsurvey
With specifics to bullying, GLBT students identify they are bullied more often. We also find that with attempts at suicide GLBT students are at greater risk (roughly 88%) than their heterosexual counterparts (40-50%). So what is our task here, as athletic trainers? Again, my personal view is to create an atmosphere that is affirming and welcoming to all REGARDLESS of one's gender, orientation, race, socio-economic status, religious/spiritual affiliation, etc. I realize this is easier said than done as issues of sexuality cross over many lines including family upbringing, religious practices and personal beliefs. What I am asking athletic trainers to do is to continue to work on being accepting of others who may have different beliefs than us,and to be respectful of those beliefs.
As a society, perhaps we should work more to 'agree to disagree' and to do so with respect. I would like to believe that we can create safe environments for our patient base where we are not 'tolerant' (this word has a negative connotation for me), but rather accepting. Too many young people are hurting themselves (even killing themselves) and their families in making difficult decisions when faced with the day in and day out struggle they face in school. Some have suggested that they have no place to turn, no place in which the comments and harassing stop. I would like to believe that we, as athletic trainers, can make the difference in people's lives by treating them with respect and acceptance.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Bullies - What Role Do ATs Play to Decrease Bullying Behavior?
Much has been written about within the last year about bullies and the impact they have on victims. We know from the literature that bullying has profound effects for both the bully and the victim. In addition, we know that forms of bullying actually vary between genders (ie. boys being more physical and girls bullying by social isolation and exclusionary behaviors).
When we think about who the aggressors are, many times we visualize the older, bigger kids who threaten the smaller kids to 'give me your lunch money, or else.' This study suggests that "It's really not the kids that are psychologically troubled, who are on the margins or the fringes of the school's social life. It's the kids right in the middle, at the heart of things ... often, typically highly, well-liked popular kids who are engaging in these behaviors."
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/10/us/ac-360-bullying-study/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
The research suggests that kids are actually have a dual role - they are both the bully and the victim. The extent to what role they play, is based upon their hierarchy in their social circle. The study suggests that often the biggest offenders are the popular kids. Interesting the study also pointed out that most of the behavior is not identified to adults with 81% percent of aggressive incidents never reported.
The study also identifies the findings have been similar in other geographical settings of the U.S. The author also states that "Family background of kids does not really seem to matter in their aggressive behavior. Instead, what really matters is where they are located in the school hierarchy," Faris said. He said he believes the patterns, "arise in a wide range of schools across the country regardless of what community they may be in."
So what does this mean for us as athletic trainers? Do we have a role in preventing bullying? My answer is that we do. In fact, we may find it difficult to believe that the popular, well-liked student-athlete is also one of the biggest offenders to other students. Within our professional practice it is identified that we need to treat others with respect. I believe that we also need to ensure that we create an environment of safety for all of our patients who come into our facility. That would mean designing, implementing and reinforcing an acceptable code of conduct for both patient and practitioner to ensure all feel the very facility in which they come to 'heal' their injury, is in fact a safe place that 'heals' their body.
When we think about who the aggressors are, many times we visualize the older, bigger kids who threaten the smaller kids to 'give me your lunch money, or else.' This study suggests that "It's really not the kids that are psychologically troubled, who are on the margins or the fringes of the school's social life. It's the kids right in the middle, at the heart of things ... often, typically highly, well-liked popular kids who are engaging in these behaviors."
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/10/us/ac-360-bullying-study/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
The research suggests that kids are actually have a dual role - they are both the bully and the victim. The extent to what role they play, is based upon their hierarchy in their social circle. The study suggests that often the biggest offenders are the popular kids. Interesting the study also pointed out that most of the behavior is not identified to adults with 81% percent of aggressive incidents never reported.
The study also identifies the findings have been similar in other geographical settings of the U.S. The author also states that "Family background of kids does not really seem to matter in their aggressive behavior. Instead, what really matters is where they are located in the school hierarchy," Faris said. He said he believes the patterns, "arise in a wide range of schools across the country regardless of what community they may be in."
So what does this mean for us as athletic trainers? Do we have a role in preventing bullying? My answer is that we do. In fact, we may find it difficult to believe that the popular, well-liked student-athlete is also one of the biggest offenders to other students. Within our professional practice it is identified that we need to treat others with respect. I believe that we also need to ensure that we create an environment of safety for all of our patients who come into our facility. That would mean designing, implementing and reinforcing an acceptable code of conduct for both patient and practitioner to ensure all feel the very facility in which they come to 'heal' their injury, is in fact a safe place that 'heals' their body.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
More Make-Up = More Trustworthy?
A recent study was conducted from Harvard, Mass General Hospital and Proctor and Gamble that compared observers perceptions of pictures of women's faces with various stages of make-up on. The results, which shouldn't seem surprising for US culture which seems to glorify beauty, demonstrated that the participants (both men and women) perceived the images of the women with more make-up on to be more attractive, more trustworthy, more likeable and more competent. It seems, however, that there is an important balance as when too much make-up is used the participants rated the person as less trustworthy than the image of a woman with no make-up on. The video link is below:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/makeup-changes-perceptions-of-women-14662824#.Tout4zx3xts.google
How does this relate back to us as athletic trainers and educators? Well, as this is only one study it would be difficult, at best, to generalize the results to suggest that all females should be taking classes on how to apply make-up. What it highlights for me is the image that we have socially ingrained into our brains that wearing make-up equals being a beautiful person. I believe the message this study sends to all - men, women, boys and girls - is that if you are not attractive, you are less than worthy, you are not smart enough, trustworthy enough. I am not sure that is the message we want to be putting out there. Instead, I would like to have messages sent out - especially to our youth - that each of us is unique and we should celebrate that. Dove has created a video they are using for girls and self-esteem - I would like to see more of these types of messages rather than the message of putting on more make-up!
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/makeup-changes-perceptions-of-women-14662824#.Tout4zx3xts.google
How does this relate back to us as athletic trainers and educators? Well, as this is only one study it would be difficult, at best, to generalize the results to suggest that all females should be taking classes on how to apply make-up. What it highlights for me is the image that we have socially ingrained into our brains that wearing make-up equals being a beautiful person. I believe the message this study sends to all - men, women, boys and girls - is that if you are not attractive, you are less than worthy, you are not smart enough, trustworthy enough. I am not sure that is the message we want to be putting out there. Instead, I would like to have messages sent out - especially to our youth - that each of us is unique and we should celebrate that. Dove has created a video they are using for girls and self-esteem - I would like to see more of these types of messages rather than the message of putting on more make-up!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)