These days, people are too quick to label an act as “bullying.” I believe that people have forgotten the real definition of the word. Instead they have decided that any unwanted or disliked action that may be considered rude is an act of bullying.
According to stopbullying.gov, bullying is repeated, unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. “Imbalance of power” is defined by bullyingstatistics.org as the use of strength, popularity or power in order to harm, control or manipulate others, as well as targeting those that are smaller in size or may have a difficult time defending themselves.
Jennifer Livingston, a Wisconsin TV news anchor, went on air during a red carpet interview at Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s Respect Awards on Oct. 2, in response to an email from a viewer complaining about her weight. In the email, Kenneth Krause complained that Livingston’s size is not a “suitable example” for the community’s young people, especially young girls. During her four minute segment on WKBT-TV in which Livingston responded to Krause, she called the writer a bully, but did not disclose his name.
Octavia Spencer, actress and director of the short film about bullying, “The Unforgiving Minute,” told The Huffington Post that the term “bullying” is dangerously overused. According to Jezebel.com, Spencer spoke out on the use of the term by Livingston stating, “[Livingston] stood up for herself and I appreciate that. I don’t necessarily know that it was bullying.”
I agree with Spencer. Krause may have been rude and rather nasty but he was not bullying her. It was one email, and Krause thought that he was making a relevant point. However, that does not mean I condone his method of doing so, or his word choice.
In the first email, which Livingston read on air on Oct. 2, Krause wrote “obesity is one of the worst choices a person can make,” and advised Livingston to “reconsider [her] responsibility to present and promote a healthy lifestyle.” In her response to this email, Livingston acknowledged she was overweight, but said that the man’s words were cruel. She also stated, “To all of the children out there who feel lost, who are struggling … listen to me right now: Do not let your self-worth be defined by bullies… Learn from my experience — that the cruel words of one are nothing compared to the shouts of many.”
I appreciate her encouraging words to young people, and she gave a strong and resounding message during that segment. However, the precursor for it is inaccurate because Livingston gives the impression that one email is equivalent to bullying.
Kailyn Eggett, a freshman film and media arts major at UT, defines bullying as “repeatedly harassing a person either emotionally, mentally or physically.” She stated that bullying is prevalent, and that it occurred frequently at her high school because of social differences between groups. Egget herself is not a stranger to bullying; during high school she took medication that lowered the effect of her immune system, so her mother had her wear a mask during flu season. She said, “I wore the mask, and even teachers were making nasty comments about it.”
According to bullyingstatistics.org, bullying is still on the rise among children and teenagers with 77 percent of students admitting to being victims. Though bullying may still be a problem, the term is being overused and misused, especially in social media. Bullying is a serious problem, but we need to clarify what is and is not included in the term.
According to The Huffington Post, Wendy Williams called out Teresa Giudice from the show “Real Housewives of New Jersey” for her claim of being bullied by Caroline Manzo, a fellow cast mate on the show. Allegedly she stated, “Bullying is not a word that applies to Jersey Housewives,” and agreed with a viewer that wrote to Bravo’s show “Watch What Happens Live” who said that bullying is “not when someone tells you how they feel about you.”
I agree with this viewer, and feel that it fits the situation of both Giudice and Livingston. Just because you do not agree with what someone has to say to or about you does not make it bullying. It is when that action is repeated and affects your life by causing strain or fear that it becomes bullying.
Elaina Zintl can be reached at elaina.zintl@spartans.ut.edu