Pink Shirt Day: spreading a message of love and kindness
Bullying is a power imbalance. One individual (or group) has power and control over another person or group of people. And it doesn’t always present itself as a physical attack. Intimidation, spreading rumours, or saying hurtful things are all forms of bullying.
Bullying is extremely prevalent in Canada, with 47 per cent of Canadian parents reporting at least one child who has been a victim of bullying and around one-third of the population sharing they had experienced bullying as a child.
The anti-bullying movement is about correcting the power imbalance and taking a stand against bullies — both at school and at the workplace.
The history of Pink Shirt Day
Pink Shirt Day grew to the national initiative it is today from a very organic beginning. David Shepherd and Travis Price and their friends organized a high school protest to wear pink in solidarity with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied for his pink shirt. Collectively, they stood together against someone who was harassing the boy and changed the narrative to one of love, kindness and community.
One of the consistent messages SOS shares with young people in our community is a reminder that if you’re being bullied - it’s not your fault.
“If you’ve been targeted by bullying, you deserve respect,” says Julie Penney, Child and Youth Manager with SOS. “You do not deserve to be bullied. We may often think that being bullied is a normal part of growing up. We all deserve to be treated with respect and to feel safe.”
If you’re being bullied, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Take a stand. If you’re being bullied, keep your cool and walk away. Using insults or fighting back can make the problem worse.
Stay focused on the things that make you feel confident and proud of yourself. Don’t join in the bullying by putting yourself down.
Get support. Hang out with friends who will help support you and work together to speak out against bullying
Think about the qualities you’d like to have in a friend and think if you have those in yourself. Cope with your feelings of sadness or anger in a healthy way through music, sports through reading, journaling or by talking it out.
Learn more about Pink Shirt Day and dealing with bullying from our Child and Youth Department: