ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES IN EXPERIENCES OF BULLYING - ASIAN AND WHITE-CHILDREN

The specific role of ethnicity in the experience of bullying was examined, with a sample of 33 pairs of Asian and white children, matched for gender, age, and school; Each child was interviewed individually, using a modified version of the Olweus questionnaire. No differences by ethnicity were found for reports of enjoying school; having friends at school; disliking other children; likelihood and frequency of being bullied, and likelihood and frequency of bullying others. For those children being bullied, no differences by ethnicity were found for where it happened, or the likelihood of getting help. However, significant difference by ethnicity was found for racist name-calling; one-half of the bullied Asian children, but none of the bullied white children in this sample, were called names about their colour. This racist name-calling appeared hurtful to the recipients and was often a reason for disliking other children. Racist name-calling should clearly be one focus of work in schools against bullying.