I feel that it is world wide the bullying and all that is mentioned. runner raises some very valid points here. This however has been part of history for a long time. At least it is being discussed and people are trying to sort it out. I do not see things as doom and gloom we are getting there slowly by exposing certain things.

How can it be combated? Maybe writing and asking our local MP's to address areas in society that we find as not needed or required. This affects all of human kind not just Australia. In some countries they feel it is okay to engage in sex with children the men and the women do not feel they have the power to do something about this. This to even occurs in Australia. Women are now featuring in the news as having sex with children or teenagers. This is not good it is the same as if it was a male doing this. bullying and treating people with disrespect should not be part of schools. Children and teenagers are affected from this right into their adult lives some even kill themselves. Some turn to other means to cope.

These topics need to be addressed and something needs to happen. All we can do is start with our own families and friends. Stand up for abuse issues when we see them or write about them and discuss them.

Motorcyclemessiah I think it was slightly off topic and so deleted although a lot of history of the Aboriginal peoples could certainly be about bullying.

GY:”To be involved in the world you need to have a certain resilience, and how do you get that without practice?”

Hmm… something to be said for the “toughening up” school of thought and how needed it is if the society we live in is rampant with bullies. Shame though eh.

Bullying seems to be everywhere from the schoolyard to the workplace, sport field, online and I guess even road rage, funny how rage will die abruptly when a bigger person emerges from a vehicle which makes me think there was an attempt to bully rather than a matter of "rage".

Do we even the playing field – all peoples learn some form of defense (have to include mental defense).

Bullying is some kind of natural human instinct maybe like greed. But yes, something like in the cases of Brodie and the 12 year old girl - others must have known and no one stepped up.

We shouldn’t forget system bullying either. Now I am sorry menfolk but I was looking at stuff on the Hay institution for Girls and haven’t looked up any young male facilities yet. It seems to be an example of this kind of bulling although other subtle forms of system bullying happens in various ways where usually many people are quiet about what is going on or it becomes acceptable to them over time and/or they don’t notice they are doing it. Churches included.

Should I mention maternal or paternal gatekeeping – bullying by any other name?

Is bullying a new thing where the definitions can be expanded, they are bound to overlap with the expanding DV and abuse definitions. I’ve never heard bullying mentioned along with neglect or scapgoating or the other abuses.

Maybe they all actually do come under the heading of Bullying.

A major cause, which you will never see being mentioned by the feminist/politically correct crew, is fatherlessness.

A major US Senate report concluded with these facts...

The United States Congress has found
"Children who live without contact with their biological father are, in comparison to children who have such contact:
(A) 5 times more likely to live in poverty;
(B) more likely to bring weapons and drugs into the classroom;
(C) twice as likely to commit crime;
(D) twice as likely to drop out of school;
(E) more likely to commit suicide;
(F) more than twice as likely to abuse alcohol or drugs; and
(G) more likely to become pregnant as teenagers.

Violent criminals are overwhelmingly males who grew up without fathers."

Protect children's right to both natural parents will reduce violence.

How the hell will the Australian Human Rights Commission ever get ANYTHING right when they think only crims have any rights that need protecting.
A crim is barely apprehended when HR lawyers descend to make it almost impossible for our cops to question rhem.
The first thing they say"Dont say anything to the police."
then they say sometthing like "You were abused when you were young weent you?" Youre suffering from depression right?" They supply all the openers and ofcourse the crims love it. They know they'll be home in time for dinner.

HR Commission and their lawyers...I hate them

socratease

The author does not actually state the reasons for bullying, but seems to say that it is gender based.

It is not gender based, and I understand that the majority of women would rather work for a male boss, because they are less likely to be bullied than a female boss.

The author mentions two very unfortunate incidents, but I would not place any great trust in the Human Rights Commission because of their obvious gender bias and discrimination.

Instead of stating the obvious in articles why doesn't Catherine Branson in her capacity as a QC get onto the Law Reform Commission & such & change things. She is part of the crowd that dreams up rules & regulations so she should get her act together & act on this.