Essay : The Problem of Bullying in Indonesia

The Problem of Bullying in Indonesia

Currently, bullying becomes a common problem that occurs in the social life of Indonesian society. Because many people think that bullying is a common problem and does not need special attention. Even often the people of Indonesia do not realize that bullying is happening around them. This problem make Indonesia become one of country with the highest number of bullying in the world.

Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggresively dominate to others (Wikipedia). Rasionalization of such behavior sometimes include differences of social class, race, religion, gender, appearance, behavior, body language,  personality, reputation, lineage, strength, size or ability. Someone who are bullied can feel like they are different, powerless, unpopular, and alone. This case can make them sad, lonely, nervous, and have problem in social life.

According to Wikipedia.org, bullying is devided into four basic types of abuse; physical, verbal, relational, and cyber. Based on number of commits, bullying also can divided into two forms; individual bullying and collective bullying.

First is Physical bullying. Physical bullying is violence directly against the victim's body. For example, hitting, stealing, kick, pushing, and others. In physical bullying the main weapon is their body. It can be danger because can lead into tragedic ending like death. But unfortunately, this bullying is often happen in Indonesia. The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) released data on child abuse rates according to the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) survey, as many as 84 percent of children in Indonesia experience violence in schools. The number of cases of violence in schools in Indonesia is higher than Vietnam (79 percent), Nepal (79 percent), Cambodia (73 percent), and Pakistan (43 percent).

Second is verbal bullying. Verbal bullying is bullying which is done indirectly by using voice as an attack weapon. According to a psychologist named Andrew Mellor, verbal bullying involves a verbal language that aims to hurt a person's feeling. Behaviors that include, among other things: mocking, giving inappropriate nicknames, slandering, harassing sexual claims, and others. Cases of bullying verbal include the kind of bullying that often occurs in everyday life but is often not realized. In Indonesia, verbal bullying often occurs in elementary school. In 2010, a student aged 14 years old kill her self because her friends always tease her fat. And few years before, a 15 years old student also did the same thing because his friends tease him falling a grade. For other concrete evidence, bullying that experienced by my young sister. She said that her friend in school often mocking other friends by using the names of parents, shape of body and threatening. See? Even in the elementary school, bullying can exist as well.

Next is relational bullying. Relational bullying also often called as social bullying. Relational bullying is done by the intend to destroy someone's reputation and keep it away from social life. This type of bullying is usually common in girl. Different from physical and verbal bullying, relational bullying is usually done in a longer period of time. I have been a witness of this bullying. When I am in elementary school, I have a friend that get this type of bullying. My classmates keep away from her because he has so many fleas. She often do so many things alone. Such as study, go to the canteen, and go back home. Finally, in the next year, I have received news that she had moved to school.

Then, Cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is bullying that happens online or through text message, email, and others social media. It includes posting rumors on site like facebook, sharing pictures or embrassing video, terrorizing through a social media account, and so on. Cyber bullying is occurs in the modern era. In Indonesia, cyber bullying is usually done by giving negative comments, beatings in a discussion online, and spreading embrassing photo or video. According to Tribun Jogja, our Social Minister, Khofifah Indah Parawansa, said that in 2016 there are a total of 3580 events of bullying and 14 percent of them are cyber bullying.

Based on Tribunpekanbaru.com, the cases of bullying or violence against children in Indonesian school is currently the second largest ranking after Japan. While US is in third position under Indonesia.

According to CNN Indonesia, Director of Social Rehabilitation of Children Social Ministry, Nahar, said that this year they receive more bullying reports than last year. He said that until June 2017 they has received 117 cases of bullying. Meanwhile, Commissioner of Commission for Child Protection of Indonesia (KPAI), Jasa Putra explained, since 2011 until 2016 it has found about 23 thousand cases of physical and psychological violence against children. However, specifically for bullying, there are about 253 cases recorded. This number consists of 122 children who become victims and 131 children who become perpetrators.

The data above shows that problem of bullying in Indonesia need much special attention, because the cases of bullying become high and higher everyday. There are so many children that become victim for this case. Some of them were hospitalized due to injuries. Some of them need a long rehabilitation period. And some of them even decide to end their lives. This is happens because our ignorence of the environtment and our attitude that often assume that this is just a common little problem. It turns out, that it was not the subject of bullying that has caused many children lay in the hospital. Not the subject of bullying that causes many children die. But we, we who have been so indifferent to the surrounding.

Therefore, let’s change. Let’s change into a more courageous and care person. Do not let any bullying arround us. Approach and encourage the victims. Because they are just like us. They also deserve to be happy.