Mitigating Bullying

While reading Pascoe's book I was reminded of the many ways that my high school acted similarly. Boys were quick to judge when it came to their masculinity and the masculinity of others. They had no problem with putting other males down who did not fit into their mold of what guys should be like at that age. The term "fag" was thrown around without understanding, nor caring, the true effects of its use.

When I think of how teachers interacted with students to stop these types of bullying, I really cant remember them doing anything other than saying "that's enough" or just sending them to the office for someone else to deal with them. Either way, it never ended. Even now when I return home to visit, the same bullying is still happening not just in high schools but with people who I graduated with.

I think the best way to mitigate bullying is by informing not only students but faculty as well.
On page 169, Pascoe states, "Schools can modify homophobic and sexist social environments in several ways - by placing affirming posters in their classrooms, providing support for GSA's, sponsoring assemblies and speakers, and reorganizing highly gendered school rituals."

While I think it would be good to use visual images like posters, what good are they if there is not a further discussion on why the poster is there and how it applies to high school. At least for me, I learned the most and was most informed through assemblies and speakers. My attention was fully on who was on the stage. I think that using assemblies and speakers is one of the better ways to inform. In addition to assemblies and speakers, open forums or talks would allow the students to engage in conversation about bullying, sexuality, gender and identity. This would allow for them to have questions answered, a different type of learning experiences. .