Mexican-American Male Masquerades in the Institution as Bully

• In Event: Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Constructing Student Identities in Policy Contexts

Abstract

Existing research and media portrayals of school bullying overwhelmingly focus on isolated acts of aggression between students (Kirman, 2004, Mishna, 2004, Olweus, 1978). Interventions center on educating parents, students, teachers and administrators in creating a safer environment, free of the dangers of school bullies. However, with definitions of bullying situated in the exertion of power in systematic and beneficial ways by the bully (Meyer, 2008), research on bullying needs to focus on discriminatory and oppressive instituttional abuses of power and control that create bullying. This research focuses on the institution as bully and the way Mexican-American males utilize their agency to respond to it.

Authors

• Heather A. Oesterreich, New Mexico State University

• Tamara Anatska, New Mexico State University

• Mia Sosa-Provencio, New Mexico State University