How are different groups, such as ethnic minorities, asylum seekers and disabled pupils, affected by bullying?

Key statement

Some studies have looked at whether being part of a particular group makes it more likely that a child will be bullied. Unfortunately some studies have found that being part of a minority group can make it more likely.
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Comment

Racism and bullying are very closely related. In schools, it can sometimes be difficult to decide where one ends and the other begins. These studies show that being a member of a minority group increases the risk of being bullied in certain situations. If all minority groups are educated in separate schools, any resulting trouble might be described as 'conflict' rather than 'bullying'.

Even where children are completely separated in this way, sub-groups can become a target. In one school where all pupils had some degree of sight loss, the minority who were completely blind were picked on by children who were partially sighted.

Such complete separation of minorities is rare in Scottish schools. Recent concern about sectarianism has placed a focus on Scotland's Catholic schools. However, in many of these there are large numbers of non-Catholics. In such schools members of the group which is in a majority in the country as a whole become a minority whose interests must be safeguarded.
(Andrew Mellor)
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Do you want to find out more?

More 1 - experiences of disabled children
More 2 - early 1990s English study
More 3 - traveller children surveyed
More 4 - survey of ethnic minority children
More 5 - study of secondary school children
More 6 - study of refugees
More 7 - bullying due to sexuality
More 8 - survey of gay and bisexual men
More 9 - homophobic bullying
More 1 - 9 on one page!
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