This week is No Name-Calling Week, a week organized by both teachers and students to put an end to name-calling and bullying in schools. Bullying is a major issue that affects children and teens of all ages and backgrounds. No Name-Calling Week specifically addresses the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ youth, as they are often targets of harassment and bias-based bullying.
Up to 75% of elementary school-aged children say that they are repeatedly called names at school and witness other students name-call. Students hardly grow out of name-calling – nearly 65% of high school students claim that name-calling happens at their school. Often, name-calling goes unchecked because it can appear benign or playful. However, when a child – especially an LGBTQ+ child – is called a derogatory name, what they hear is “you don’t belong here,” or “we will never accept you as you are.”
Name-calling tends to have lasting social effects because it is a repeated behavior that ostracizes victims. Once a person is associated with a slur or negative name, it is tempting for peers to adopt the name – even if they had nothing to do with the initial moment of harassment. This type of mental exploitation damages a child’s confidence and erodes their ability to express their personality. When a child internalizes an insult, it grows within them. They may come to believe that the insult is true or that they are inferior to the person that called them a name.
Like other forms of bullying, name-calling has troubling, lasting effects on a child’s mental health. Here are some of the consequences of name-calling that parents, educators, and trusted adults should be aware of:
- Name-calling alters a child’s inner world. Feelings of worthlessness, depression and a loss of control are not unusual when a child suffers in the company of their schoolmates. Some victims turn to suicidal ideation; others express major shifts in their moods. If a child is unpredictably alternating from bright and happy to sullen, removed, or upset, they may be experiencing bullying. A bullied child will internally repeat what their offenders say to them. When they hear it again and again without seeing the offender face any consequences, they may begin to feel that the name-calling is valid or somehow justified.
- A child’s self-esteem is at risk. Bullied children lack the ability to hold a realistic image of themselves, which affects their confidence and ability to authentically participate in hobbies, schoolwork, and activities that they might otherwise enjoy. When sources of pleasure disappear from a child’s life, they can face years of sadness and social anxiety.
- The effects of name-calling can be physical as well. Anxiety and mood swings can disrupt a child’s ability to eat or sleep properly, resulting in headaches, upset stomach, and irritability. Stress-related gastrointestinal conditions can also arise and worsen over time in instances of severe bullying. Some offenders may become violent with their victims. In particular, LGBTQ+ youth are vulnerable to bias-based violence and hate crimes.
The first step toward ending name-calling is to take it seriously. Ensuring that victims are protected by the adults in their school and household and that the slurs that are spoken to them are utterly untrue is key to alleviating a bullied child’s struggle. Taking name-calling seriously is one of many ways adults can stand up to bullying and help cultivate a safe, positive environment for all children.
