disenfranchised pain:
dis-en-fran-chahyz: to deny someone a right
OFTEN, the pain and humiliation suffered by victims is disenfranchised.
THAT IS, their peers deny them the right to Cry, get Angry, become Upset, Depressed, or to Tell Anyone
about the abuse they suffer.
LABELED a Cry-Baby, Gay, a Fag, or simply Pathetic should they do any of these things,
a victim is not only ridiculed, humiliated, and ostracized, but is expected to be able to "take it" --to suffer in silence.
If s/he can't, it is cause for further humiliation.
What You Should Know:
dis-en-fran-chahyz: to deny someone a right
OFTEN, the pain and humiliation suffered by victims is disenfranchised.
THAT IS, their peers deny them the right to Cry, get Angry, become Upset, Depressed, or to Tell Anyone
about the abuse they suffer.
LABELED a Cry-Baby, Gay, a Fag, or simply Pathetic should they do any of these things,
a victim is not only ridiculed, humiliated, and ostracized, but is expected to be able to "take it" --to suffer in silence.
If s/he can't, it is cause for further humiliation.
What You Should Know:
- Taunting, mockery, exclusion, gossip and rumors (whether on-line, in school, or the workplace) are forms of violence-- emotional and psychological violence. The wounds they inflict can be deep, and fester for years.
- These behaviors humiliate and stigmatize their targets, damaging current, as well as future, relationships.
- Bullying often leaves its victim with few, if any, opportunities to explain their point of view, or make amends.
- Tears or formal complaint legitimate the abuse that has been directed at her. She "can't take it"--and her pain is "proof" that she is pathetic. Unfortunately, admitting distress--even despair--often causes torment to escalate.
- The pain triggered by social abuse "lights up" the same pain centers of the brain that physical damage "lights up." Social pain is real. It hurts. And it needs the opportunity to heal.
