STEP ONE: Learn More

What does Bullying & Harassment in youth programming look like?

Bullying and harassment can be physical, emotional, verbal or social. 

Physical bullying and harassment are behaviors by peers against another of similar age that threaten physical harm.  This includes, but not limited to: tripping spitting, pushing, punching, kicking, confining (as in a locker, bathroom stall), hiding clothing or other belongings, throwing things, destroying property, physically blocking or stalking.

Emotional or verbal bullying and harassment involves using words intended to frighten, belittle, hurt or demean a bullying target.  This includes, but is not limited to: threatening physical violence or other kids of threats name calling, using electronic or social media to belittle or humiliate, taunting, ridiculing another’s appearance, racial attacks, and homophobic/transphobic comments in works, writing or on social media.

Social bullying and harassment involves behaviors that are intended to cause the bullying target to feel along, unsupported, isolated or vulnerable.  It involves, but is not limited to:  excluding a person from group activities, refusing to work, practice or rehearse with, gossiping about, and using social media to exclude or gossip about another.

What is Abuse, and what does it look like in youth programming?

Abuse is physical, emotional or sexual.

Physical Abuse is any behavior that is intended to or has the effect of deliberately harming another’s body. This includes, but not limited to: pushing, shoving, tripping, physical restraint, blocking access or egress, striking, punching or kicking.  It also includes placing someone in isolation, refusal to provide necessary medical treatment or support, disruption or denial of sleep, preventing child or youth from using bathroom, denial or access to hydration or nutrition, and/or pressure or coercion to diet or consume supplements.

Emotional/Verbal abuse involves behavior, or words or actions, which frighten, degrade belittle or demean another.  This involves, but is not limited to: stomping around, striking walls or other objects, throwing things, yelling at, belittling, name calling, using sarcasm, humiliating or singling out in front of others/peers.  Refusing to respond to child/youth (silent treatment), insulting or degrading comments about child’s ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, relations or generalize documents that negatively affect child or youth participant.  Refusing to answer questions, refusing to teach/mentor, threatening to withdraw support, or threats to child/youth or family members.

Sexual abuse involves behaviors that target or damage the child/youth’s sexuality, sexual integrity or spirit. It is important to note that there is no such thing as consensual sex between a student and teacher or instructor and participant, regardless of the age of the student or participant.  The power difference nullifies any “consent” by the vulnerable individual under the Canada’s Criminal Code.

Sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to: comments to a child or about their appearance that are sexualized, sexual harassment in words, actions or by electronic transmission, exposing self to child/youth, exposing child or youth to pornography.  This also includes: sexualized “jokes” or commentary around child or youth participants.  In appropriate touching of child/youth, sexual assault, or administering an intoxicant for purposes of sexual assault.

What is Discrimination?

Discrimination is an action or a decision that treats a person or a group badly for reasons such as their race, age or disability.  A number of different terms have been coined to label different forms of discrimination, including racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia, or cissexism (discrimination against transgender persons), classism (discrimination based on social class), lookism (discrimination based on physical appearance), and ableism (discrimination based on disability).

Sometimes discrimination is deliberate and direct. For instance, discrimination can take the form of racist insults, sexual harassment, or the refusal to include people because of their age, religion or physical or mental abilities. Discrimination can also be indirect or unintentional. One example is a public service or office that can only be reached by a flight of stairs. People who use walkers or wheelchairs will be unable to use the service, even though they are not intentionally excluded.

Protection against discrimination in this province is outlined by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Code protects against any “prohibited grounds” of discrimination based on: • sexual orientation • ancestry, colour, race or perceived race • nationality • place of origin • receipt of public assistance. • Disability (mental and physical) • age (18 or more) • religion or religious creed • family status (parent-child relationship) • marital status • and or sex (including pregnancy). The Code also protects your fundamental rights to freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, and freedom of association, within legal limits.