Subramanian - Bullying: the ultimate teen guide

It Happened to Me

Series Editor: Arlene Hirschfelder

Books in the It Happened to Me series are designed for inquisitive teens digging for answers about certain illnesses, social issues, or lifestyle interests. Whether you are deep into your teen years or just entering them, these books are gold mines of up-to-date information, riveting teen views, and great visuals to help you figure out stuff. Besides special boxes highlighting singular facts, each book is enhanced with the latest reading lists, websites, and an index. Perfect for browsing, there are loads of expert information by acclaimed writers to help parents, guardians, and librarians understand teen illness, tough situations, and lifestyle choices.

1. Epilepsy: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kathlyn Gay and Sean McGarrahan, 2002.
2. Stress Relief: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Mark Powell, 2002.
3. Learning Disabilities: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Penny Hutchins Paquette and Cheryl Gerson Tuttle, 2003.
4. Making Sexual Decisions: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by L. Kris Gowen, 2003.
5. Asthma: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Penny Hutchins Paquette, 2003.
6. Cultural DiversityConflicts and Challenges: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kathlyn Gay, 2003.
7. Diabetes: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Katherine J. Moran, 2004.
8. When Will I Stop Hurting? Teens, Loss, and Grief: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Dealing with Grief, by Ed Myers, 2004.
9. Volunteering: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kathlyn Gay, 2004.
10. Organ TransplantsA Survival Guide for the Entire Family: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Tina P. Schwartz, 2005.
11. Medications: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Cheryl Gerson Tuttle, 2005.
12. Image and IdentityBecoming the Person You Are: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by L. Kris Gowen and Molly C. McKenna, 2005.
13. Apprenticeship: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Penny Hutchins Paquette, 2005.
14. Cystic Fibrosis: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Melanie Ann Apel, 2006.
15. Religion and Spirituality in America: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kathlyn Gay, 2006.
16. Gender Identity: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Cynthia L. Winfield, 2007.
17. Physical Disabilities: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Denise Thornton, 2007.
18. MoneyGetting It, Using It, and Avoiding the Traps: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Robin F. Brancato, 2007.
19. Self-Advocacy: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Cheryl Gerson Tuttle and JoAnn Augeri Silva, 2007.
20. Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Suzanne Buckingham Slade, 2007.
21. The Military and Teens: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kathlyn Gay, 2008.
22. Animals and Teens: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Gail Green, 2009.
23. Reaching Your Goals: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Anne Courtright, 2009.
24. Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kelly Rouba, 2009.
25. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Natalie Rompella, 2009.
26. Body Image and Appearance: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kathlyn Gay, 2009.
27. Writing and Publishing: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Tina P. Schwartz, 2010.
28. Food Choices: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Robin F. Brancato, 2010.
29. Immigration: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Tatyana Kleyn, 2011.
30. Living with Cancer : The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Denise Thornton, 2011.
31. Living Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kathlyn Gay, 2012.
32. Social Networking: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Jenna Obee, 2012.
33. Sports: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Gail Fay, 2013.
34. Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Revised Edition, by Suzanne Buckingham Slade, 2013.
35. Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kathlyn Gay, 2013.
36. Substance Abuse: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Sheri Bestor, 2013.
37. LGBTQ Families: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Eva Apelqvist, 2013.
38. Bullying: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Mathangi Subramanian, 2014.

Bullying

The Ultimate Teen Guide

Mathangi Subramanian

It Happened to Me, No. 38

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD

Lanham Boulder New York Toronto Plymouth, UK

Published by Rowman & Littlefield

4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706

www.rowman.com

10 Thornbury Road, Plymouth PL6 7PP, United Kingdom

Copyright 2014 by Rowman & Littlefield

All rights reserved . No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Subramanian, Mathangi, 1980

Bullying : the ultimate teen guide / Mathangi Subramanian.

pages cm. (It happened to me ; No. 38)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-8108-9054-1 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-8108-9055-8 (ebook) 1. BullyingJuvenile literature. 2. CyberbullyingJuvenile literature. I. Title.

BF637.B85S83 2014

302.34'3dc 32013044839

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992. Printed in the United States of America

For Santhosh Ramdoss

Contents

Acknowledgments

T his book would not have been possible without the support of many. Thanks to Tatyana Kleyn for putting me in touch with Scarecrow Press, encouraging me to join the Ultimate Teen Guide club, and being a mentor and friend. Thanks to Monisha Bajaj, who provided me with source material, including her excellent co-authored curriculum, In the Face of Xenophobia; who constantly pushes me toward new opportunities; and who has cheered me on through thick and thin. Thanks to Maria Hantzopolous for connecting me with sources, reading a sample chapter, and generally being amazingly encouraging, warm, and welcoming. Thanks to Ali Michael for her insightful commentswithout you, chapter 5 would have been a mess! Thanks to Tejpreet Kaur and Christine Highet for connecting me with teens who provided their stories. Thanks to Namit Singh who was a contributor and an editoryour comments on chapter 10 made this a better book. Thanks to Tali Horowitz for connecting me with Courtney Stein at Radio Rookies, who not only introduced me to Temitayo Fagbenle, but also read a chapter and provided comments. Thanks to Rohini Mohan for being my writing partner and making the process so much fun. Thanks to Jan Atwell, Carlos Menchaca, Margaret Nelson, Regina Poreda-Ryan, Nick Rolf, and Aysha Schomburg for guiding me through the anti-bullying policy process while I was at city council: I wrote chapters 10 and 11 with you in my mind.

Thanks to the Fulbright Foundation for funding a year without an office job, which gave me the time and space to work on this manuscript.

Thanks to my editor, Arlene Hirschfelder, whose insight and encouragement made this manuscript possible. The article clippings and advice she sent me across the ocean were essential for finding my words.

Thanks to my family for cheering me on and always believing that one day I would be an authoreven when I didnt believe it myself. Thanks especially to my mom, who served as my mail depot and go-between while I lived in Bangalore and worked with an American press.

Thanks to my husband, Santhosh Ramdoss, for being by my side throughout this, my first book, and who I hope will be by my side through many others. You make me believe in the possibility of a better world.

Introduction

L ady Gaga, a famous musician, who was overweight as a child.

Tyra Banks, African American model and host of Americas Next Top Model , who was taller and skinnier than her classmates.