cyberbullying

In Li's study, “Cyberbullying in Schools: A research of Gender differences,” published in May 2006, she found that when gender was considered, significant differences were identified both in terms of bullying and in cyberbullying. Males were more likely to be bullies and cyberbullies than their female counterparts. In addition, female cyberbully victims were also more likely to inform adults about an incident occurring than males.

She also finds that women tend to prefer this technology based form of bulling because it allows for the aggressor the option to remain anonymous and avoid that face-to-face interaction.

Within all of these gender differences found in Li's study, cyberbullying is related to gender.

Li's strongest statistic in relation to gender being a significant factor in cyberbullying ..is that female cybervictims are more inclined to inform adults about the incidents than are male cybervictims.

This finding may relate to the gender differences identified in conversational and conflict-management styles..... for example how men are typically more hesitant to ask for help because it puts them in a one-down position.

These findings suggests that gender plays a significant role in cyberbullying and the gender difference identified in this study that males are less likely to inform adults underlines the importance of awareness.

Regardless of any differences in statistic variation within studies conducted on this issue, The question asked was, “Is cyberbullying related to gender?” And it without a doubt Is related to gender in one way or the other any way you look at it. For example, in the online gaming world, 60% of gamers have played as a differently gendered character. They are able explore the different dimensions of gender and experience alternative social interactions.

This example just underlines the easy ability to remain anonymous and this is seen in cyberbullying all the time. There are countless cyberbullying stories of a female portraying a male to bully another girl and vice versa. The fact that gender is often used as a tool in these kinds of scenarios and is used as a means to bully one another shows that cyberbullying is related to gender. Within Li's results to her study as well as the examples I have discussed and countless others, within all of these scenarios, Cyberbullying is related to gender.

But seeing as that Li's study was conducted in 2006, we see it as a little dated considering the rapid changing and enhancement of technology. Gender showed to have played a role within her study then, but in more recent studies we have found that in plays and an even more significant role since then. It's really hard to measure this sort of thing because technology is rapidly changing every day.

RQ1 What can schools to better teach students to help them avoid being cyberbullied and becoming cyberbullies? If anything...