More than just shedding light on an individual's personal and tragic ordeals, the sweeping media coverage of a young Vancouver girl's suicide has raised our awareness of a much broader issue-bullying. Amanda Todd's suicide has come to represent the form of harassment's worst possible outcome and has sparked a serious dialogue on the topic. Bullying victims, psychologists, policy-makers and concerned parents have all joined in on the discussion; unfortunately, however, vulgar reactions to Todd's death have also surfaced across the Internet-an early sign that putting an end to bullying will be a long-term endeavor.
Despite the obvious challenges, the motion put forward in the House of Commons earlier this week calling for a national anti-bullying strategy is an important first-step towards getting the problem under control. Despite not having any "teeth," the motion is a strong display of leadership on the matter that has surely resonated with many Canadians.
Piecing together an effective anti-bullying strategy will undoubtedly pose its own set of challenges. While some would advocate for a strategy based on retribution-made evident by much of the social media chatter over the Todd incident-it is worth considering the causes behind bullying as well. Under what circumstances does someone become a bully? It would be silly to imagine, for example, someone waking up one day and making the conscious decision to become a bully. While it is important to hold bullies accountable for their actions, the strategy should also tackle the root causes of the problem.
Another point to consider is the breadth of the strategy. Is bullying something limited to the schoolyard? Or should the strategy apply to the office as well? In the wake of Todd's suicide, it seems like much of the media has focused on bullying solely as an adolescent behavior. Although young people are probably more vulnerable to the effects of bullying than adults, bullying among adults is a reality that should not be overlooked. Most definitions of bullying do not limit the behavior to a certain age group and neither should a national strategy aimed at its eradication.
Another issue might be the word "bully" itself. Over the years, the many cartoons and comedies featuring the proverbial schoolyard bully may have diluted the gravity of the term in our popular imagination. If policy-makers want to give this strategy any teeth, they might want to consider using the word "bullying" interchangeably with "harassment," which carries more weight from a legal standpoint.
Promoting accessible, safe and culturally appropriate environments where victims of bullying can seek support should also be a part of the strategy. In many cases, these environments already exist, but simply require better outreach capacities. Giving school guidance councilors, for example, the resources they need to connect with potential bullying victims can help to extend the impact of their services.
Even with the most well thought-out strategy to combat bullying in place, victims will continue to go under the radar. The polished sound bites of experts and politicians also have their limits. At the end of the day, it is the choices that we make as individuals on a daily basis that matter the most. A small act of kindness can make a major difference in someone's life and can help to foster more positive living spaces. Conversely, acts of malice can rob people of their dignity, greatly diminish their quality of life and poison the space we live in. An awareness of the choices we make in or day-to-day relations with one another and the impact of these choices are perhaps the most important parts to any strategy aimed at squashing bullying.
The case of Amanda Todd has initiated a much needed, serious inquiry into the question of bullying in our society. As the experts weigh-in and our leaders tackle the issue in Ottawa, let us not forget the crucial role that we play as individuals in removing the stain of bullying from our communities; it is arguably the most potent ingredient of an effective anti-bullying strategy.
