Schools and communities that respect diversity can help protect children against bullying behavior. However, when children are not in supportive environments, they may be at a higher risk of being bullied. Instances of bullying and harassment based on race, ethnicity, national origin, and religion may rise as a response to social, political, and world events. For example, Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, and Sikh students, as well as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students have all reported increases in bullying and harassment in recent years.
Children of any religion or faith may be bullied because of faith-related practices, such as prayer, fasting, the avoidance of certain foods or activities, and wearing visible faith-related attire. For example, Muslim girls who wear hijabs (head scarves), Sikh boys who wear patka or dastaar (turbans), and Jewish boys who wear a kippah (yarmulke or skullcap) report being targeted because of these visible symbols of their religions. They could even be physically bullied by the forceful removal of these significant clothing items by others.
Children may also be bullied, harassed, or stereotyped based on racial, ethnic, or ancestral characteristics, such as skin color, cultural practices, and language spoken.
When bullying is sufficiently serious and based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion, it may be considered discriminatory harassment. Learn more about federal civil rights laws.
If you or someone you know has been bullied because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion at school you can:
- Notify a school leader or trusted adult.
- Write down the details.
- Ask for a language interpreter and translated documents and messages if you need help communicating with school staff in a language other than English.
- Consider filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. Department of Education. Both agencies can review complaints about schools.
In addition to the resources listed on this page, the federal government can provide help to students and their families, as well as school support staff, teachers, district and school administrators, personnel in institutions of higher education, and state administrators, to improve conditions for learning.” The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments offers a variety of technical assistance, including resources related to Race, Gender, and National Origin from Equity Assistance Centers.