Week 12: Gender and the Future

For the last week of class, the topic for group presentations were about gender and the future. The group that presented Tuesday catered their presentation towards gender and bullying in regards to technology.

Cyber bullying is becoming a significant issue in today's society due to the advancement in technology and the lack of parental supervision. In addition, there are many types of social media that allow for cyber bullying to take place. Some examples include Facebook, twitter, My Space, and MSN. The ways in which people can bully others online varies from person to person. On Facebook, teenagers have the ability to post cruel and disheartening comments on peoples’ pictures and videos. With that being said, cyber bullying is more often associated with females than males. This is because there are large gender differences in the way the Internet is used. From the class presentation, we learned that males identify themselves as bullies more than females. They also display a positive attitude towards aggression. In addition, they show bullying activity towards both males and females in attempt to increase their social status. In regards to females as bullies, they tend to be loud, rude, and domineering. Females, however, mostly bully towards other females instead of both sexes like males. Females also use the method of cyber-bullying as a way of displaying their dominance or power.

During their presentation, the group asked the class the following question:


Do you think that bullying over social media will get better over time or is it going to get worse?

As a class, we collectively agreed that bullying over social media will only get worse. Unfortunately, as we progress towards the future, children do not understand how much of a negative impact bullying has on individuals everywhere. In cases such as Amanda Todd, it’s unfortunate that adolescents feel they must commit suicide to remove themselves from harsh bullying situations.

With the social problem of bullying, there are many solutions that can be provided. When discussing solutions, the main factor is about bringing attention to the issue. Bullying is not something we can continue to ignore. We need to continue events such as Sea of Pink to support individuals who have been bullied in the past. This brings attention to bullying as a significant social problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. From the parental perspective, our class suggested that adults could monitor Internet usage, watch for cues from their children, engage in open conversations and encourage communication on a daily basis. In regards to education, teachers can also provide solutions for the problem of bullying and cyber bullying. Schools should monitor and lock certain websites from student access. In addition, I think it’s important for schools to educate students on cyber bullying and create a safe environment where students feel comfortable at all times. In conclusion, we ALL need to get on the same page and help protect the youth in contemporary society. Today’s children are the adults of the future and we cannot continue to let them end their lives. Bullying is not acceptable and needs to come to an end IMMEDIATELY. We need to hold adolescents accountable for the serious actions they commit in regards to physically and emotionally harming their peers.