{"id":3076,"date":"2024-11-26T10:27:04","date_gmt":"2024-11-26T07:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gatedxb.ae\/?p=3076"},"modified":"2025-01-16T18:09:08","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T15:09:08","slug":"the-hidden-side-of-perfect-dubai-the-issue-of-bullying-among-expat-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gatedxb.ae\/en\/2024\/11\/26\/the-hidden-side-of-perfect-dubai-the-issue-of-bullying-among-expat-children\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hidden Side of “Perfect” Dubai: The Issue of Bullying Among Expat Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Hidden Side of “Perfect” Dubai: Bullying Among Expat Children<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Why do children face bullying even in a prosperous city like Dubai? Behind the fa\u00e7ade of luxury and security lies a shadowy side of school life. Every fifth student in the UAE feels unsafe at school. What drives children to bully their peers? What are the consequences for victims and aggressors? Together with clinical psychologist Evgeniya Bogdanova, we examine the “anatomy” of school bullying.<\/p>\n

In 2019, Cartoon Network MENA conducted a survey of 700 parents of children aged 6 to 12 in the UAE to assess the impact of bullying. The results revealed that more than 85% of schoolchildren had experienced bullying<\/strong>. Additionally, only about half of the parents were aware of it (source: Gulf News<\/em><\/span><\/a>). Why does this happen? Let\u2019s dive in and explore.<\/p>\n

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The Paradox of the “Perfect” City<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When I first arrived in Dubai, I was pleasantly surprised by how safe the environment seemed.<\/p>\n

Dubai, a city of contrasts and high expectations, is often portrayed as the ideal place to raise children. Well-maintained neighborhoods, prestigious schools, extensive surveillance, and low crime rates attract families from all over the world. However, behind this fa\u00e7ade of prosperity lies a different reality.<\/p>\n

A survey conducted in a Russian-speaking parenting chat in one of Dubai\u2019s districts revealed that bullying among children aged 10\u201312 is far from a new issue. Parents who encountered the problem often found themselves at a loss. Instead of receiving support and collaboration, they faced accusations from other parents, escalating into conflict. Everyone was left defending their own child as best they could.<\/p>\n

Fear of deportation and reluctance to draw the authorities\u2019 attention paralyze many parents, preventing them from openly discussing the issue or seeking collective solutions. Some parents don\u2019t even fully understand what bullying is, the forms it can take, or how to address it.<\/p>\n

The situation in this parent group highlights that bullying remains a pressing issue, even in seemingly ideal conditions like Dubai. It affects not only the children but also their parents, creating additional stress and tension within families.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

According to research<\/span><\/a>, 16% of students in grades 6\u20139 in the UAE feel unsafe at school.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What Is Bullying?<\/h3>\n

Imagine living under the constant shadow of mockery and threats\u2014that\u2019s bullying. It turns every school day or playground visit into a nightmare.<\/p>\n

Unlike a conflict, bullying is repetitive and involves a power imbalance, where the bully is physically or socially stronger than the victim. It often lacks a clear cause. In a conflict, both sides typically show aggression and fight over something tangible. In bullying, one side (or several) displays aggression simply for the sake of tormenting the other. As the bully might say to their victim: “I just don\u2019t like you. I want you gone.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Types of Bullying<\/h3>\n

Bullying takes many forms and can manifest in different ways:<\/p>\n