Bullying a big problem

Research show that gay students are more than 30 percent likely to be bullied than their peers. And the consequences can be severe, ranging from higher risks of dropping out of school to suicidal behaviour. Therefore the question arises, are school authorities doing enough to prevent homo- and transphobic bullying?

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Sigurður Páll Jósteinsson has researched bullying. He says that it is a known fact that gay students are at a higher risk of being mobbed than their peers.

“It is a known fact that gay students are at higher risk of being mobbed than others,” says Sigurður Páll Jósteinsson, who has researched homophobic bullying. Sigurð’s research is based on a wide range of data, including a recent Icelandic study that shows queer Icelandic teens are 5-6 time more likely to repeatedly consider committing a suicide than their heterosexual peers. And Sigurður names bullying as an influencing factor.

Hafþór Freyr Líndal, a member of SAFT’s youth panel, the Icelandic safer internet center, which is run by Home and School – The National parent organization in Iceland in cooperation with the police, Save the Children in Iceland and Red Cross, has seen severe examples of cyberbullying aimed specifically at LGBTI teens. “While online bullying aimed against gay students are only a fraction of the cases that we see, many of such cases that we have seen are particularly coarse.” He says that the severe bullying is particularly striking online, on sites such as Ask.fm and Formspring, where anonymous questions can be asked and comments made anonymously.

“What is also worrying,” Hafþór says, “is that we see few people take up the cudgels for the individuals being bullied.”

He adds that fortunately there is an indication that kids are taking a stand against homophobic bullying. Something he experienced first hand last February when SAFT payed a few classes of 16-year-old students a visit. “We brought them a collection of real comments taken from social media sites and asked the students to build a pyramid, putting the most severe on top. One of the comments was “All gays must die”. In all cases the students put that comment among the highest in the pyramid. We were glad to see that students at that age are prepared to be critical and take a stand. And most of them appear to be against anti-gay remarks.” He is therefore positive about the power future generations have to change.

But both Hafþór and Sigurður agree that LGBTI bullying needs to be addressed and the best way to do that is with an educational system free of prejudice. The key to such a system, they believe, lies in increased education on LGBTI matters, not only for students, but teachers as well. “Teachers working with children and adolescents need to be better educated, to acquire the skills to analyse, react to and prevent LGBTI bullying,” says Sigurður.

“What is also worrying is that we see few people take up the cudgels for the individuals being bullied.”

He points out that school authorities have an extensive responsibility to tackle the issue. “Bullying typically

SAFT has just realeased a statement to the media openly condemnning hatespeech aimed at LGBTI people in Iceland. Hatespeech that has surfaced in the last weeks following the decision of  of the local government of Hafnarfjarðarbær to add queer issues to the curriculum to educate the young people of the town.
Hafþór Freyr Líndal, from the SAFT youth council, which has just released a statement to the media openly condemnning hatespeech aimed at LGBTI people in Iceland. Hatespeech that has surfaced in the last weeks following the decision of the local government of Hafnarfjarðarbær to add queer issues to the curriculum to educate the young people of the town.

takes place within the schools or at school hours. Therefore, school authorities not only have a responsibility to tackle bullying, it is also their legal obligation. They are supposed to educate students on bullying on the one hand and about LGBTI issues and sexuality on the other. That happens through teachers. To be able to do that effectively, it needs to be assured that teachers themselves receive adequate education on LGBTI matters.”

And it seems that adequate education on LGBTI matters isn’t the only education teachers need.  A research from the year 2011, amongst students studying to become teachers at the School of Education, in University of Iceland, shows that they themselves feel that they need more education and training to be better able to tackle bullying – bullying in general.

Going back to LGBTI issues Sigurður says that Samtökin ’78, The National Queer Organisation, offers education for students and teachers of elementary schools, which has been well received. However, it is up to the heads of schools if they want it or not. “Which is not good enough. Research show that increasing education is the best way to fight prejudice. The authorities have a legal responsibility to offer a safe environment for all students. Therefore, they need to prioritize and pay more attention to LGBTI matters.”

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Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

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Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

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    Omnom Chocolate
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      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

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      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

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        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
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        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

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        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

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        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
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          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

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          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

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