Bullying: Documentary Analysis

I’ve never understood the motivations behind bullying. I have made guesses and assumptions based on my own experiences. Jealousy? Insecurity? Need for power? The motivations behind bullying may be different, however I feel that the results and reactions are incredibly similar. Take Bully for instance. The documentary displayed shocking instances of bullying; however what was notably more upsetting were the reactions that people had to it. The underlying theme seemed to be a “kids will be kids” or “blame the victim for not standing up for themselves” approach. The vice principal from Alex’s school not only ignited me with literal feelings of rage but also of resentment and confusion. I was so stunned at the approach this administrator had taken to the overwhelming problem of bullying at her school. I made my mom watch the documentary with me and I kept saying, “Am I overreacting? Am I right to feel that she is doing something wrong?” I was stunned at parental reactions, as well. Some parents understood their child’s pain and worked to improve it but I don’t think this was the case for all of them. …show more content…
There were many moments that I felt my heart literally breaking for the amount of cruelty. However, this video and the articles gave me insight into why the problem of bullying persists. Like anything, we are more willing to step in and make a difference when the problem is relatable to us. Watching Kelby’s story was devastating as my two best friends are gay. I have seen struggles that they go through, with their family, with their community, etc. While their problems are not destructive as Kelby’s, I was much more affected by her story because of my