Bullying stories

We asked 500 women if they had been bullied and over half said yes. It seems that almost anyone can become a victim. Here, some iVillagers recount their experiences of bullying as children and parents

Lasting effects

I was bullied in primary school and was too ashamed to tell my parents. They bullied me because I had speech problems - I still do at 39. I was called names and teased for attending learning support to help my English, Maths, and reading. Sometimes I wish I hadn't been born. I find it difficult meeting new people and trying new things due to my lack of confidence. I don't have many friends because of this.

Sticks and stones

I was bullied pretty much from the moment I started school. In first and middle school it was the usual name-calling stuff, but when I went to secondary school, things went dramatically downhill. I was verbally and physically bullied every day. I had things stolen and was hit with sticks. On one occasion my persecutors kept stabbing me with drawing pins throughout a lesson. Teachers ignored it at first, some always did, but others tried to help me. They were put on alert to watch that I wasn't attacked. I moved classes and got used to writing statements whenever something happened. At the time it shattered my confidence. I used to be a loud and quite wilful child, but after starting school I became less trusting and more introverted. I finally realised that through surviving what I went through I had become stronger, and after school I began to build my confidence back up. Though even now, I find it difficult to trust people, and petty insults still sting.

No protection

Since my daughter started high school last year she has been bullied. The school did not contact me or the other parents and has failed to protect her. Now we are being terrorised at home. I spoke to the Head Teacher, who decided to move her into another class when she goes back after the summer holidays. This won't help the situation, as the bullies are not being disciplined. Things have got so bad that the mother of one of the girls has threatened my daughter, and even had people throw eggs at our house. The police have even got involved. I feel that, had the school told the parents what their children have been doing, then they would realise what is going on and not just listen to their children's version of events. There is a big section in the school prospectus saying they are committed to tackling bullying, but they are truly out of their depth. The bullies are protected and the victims are let down and ignored, because it's the powerful kids who run the school, not the teachers.