Bullying & lateral violence

Bullying facts & statistics

What is lateral violence?

Lateral violence is a term that describes "a form of bullying that includes gossip, shaming and blaming others, backstabbing and attempts to socially isolate others" [1].

In another description [5], lateral violence has been explained as the "organised, harmful behaviours that we do to each other collectively as part of an oppressed group, within our families, within our organisations and within our communities".

"Lateral violence is the expression of rage and anger, fear and terror that can only be safely vented upon those closest to us when we are being oppressed." In other words, people who are victims of a situation of dominance turn on each other instead of confronting the system that oppresses them.

Lateral violence is a worldwide occurrence with all minorities and particularly Aboriginal peoples. It is directed sideways ('lateral') meaning the aggressors are your peers, often people in powerless positions. It is your own (Aboriginal) peers who bully you.

Other terms include 'work place bullying' and 'horizontal violence'.

Research suggests that as many as 95% of bullying occurs amongst Aboriginal people themselves [4].

Lateral violence happens in organisations everywhere—people gossiping and backstabbing—but within Aboriginal communities, it's particularly sharp and particularly acute. —Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner [7]

Cyber-bullying through texting and social networking is also an emerging problem among Aboriginal people [7].

Causes of lateral violence

The roots of lateral violence lie in colonisation, oppression, intergenerational trauma, powerlessness and ongoing experiences of racism and discrimination, factors mainstream bullying programs do not take into account [4].

[Lateral violence] comes from being colonised, invaded. It comes from being told you are worthless and treated as being worthless for a long period of time. Naturally you don't want to be at the bottom of the pecking order, so you turn on your own.—Richard J. Frankland, Aboriginal singer/songwriter, author and film maker [1]

Governments can (inadvertently or deliberately) create the environment for lateral violence through a lack of recognition and engagement, and by pitting groups against each other.

One such example is the native title process where Aboriginal people have to prove their identity over and over again. In some states Aboriginal groups have a say in who belongs to a particular land and who doesn't, a right which can stir lateral violence [7] when native title claimants are not sure of their Aboriginal identity. The native title process can also lead to feelings of dispossession.

Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, says that "although native title provides a unique opportunity for many of our communities to overcome disadvantage, these outcomes are often not fully realised because lateral violence fragments our communities as we navigate structures such as the native title system." [8].

Effects

Effects of lateral violence and bullying include reduced (mental) health and well-being and lower self-confidence. Organisations function less and experience high staff turnover with less Aboriginal people taking positions.

"I met a lady once," recalls Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. "When we explained lateral violence, she broke down and cried and said 'that's what caused my husband to kill himself!'." [7]

With lateral violence the oppressed become the oppressors. We've internalised the pain of colonisation and our oppression and we've taken it into our communities in the factionalisation and in the gossip and talk of blood quantum, "you're half-blood" etc.—Allen Benson, CEO Native Counseling Services of Alberta, Canada [2]

Allen Benson goes on to explain that "as oppressed people, we want to say we have that little bit of power over somebody and we've just dragged ourselves down as a society instead of supporting each other in the community. As long as we internalise the pain and don't forgive people, we'll carry it with us forever." [1]

Violence is normalised and children grow up expected to behave like everyone else and copy the bullying.

Forms of lateral violence

Frequent forms of lateral violence are:

• nonverbal innuendo (raising eyebrows, face-making),
• bullying,
• verbal affront (overt/covert, snide remarks, lack of openness, abrupt responses, gossiping),
• shaming,
• undermining activities (turning away, not being available, social exclusion),
• withholding information,
• sabotage (deliberately setting up a negative situation),
• infighting (bickering, family feuds),
• scapegoating,
• backstabbing (complaining to peers and not confronting the individual),
• failure to respect privacy,
• broken confidences,
• organisational conflict,
• physical violence.

95% of a group of young people had witnessed lateral violence at home [1].

Those most at risk of lateral violence in its raw physical form are family members and, in the main, the most vulnerable members of the family: old people, women and children. Especially the children. —Marcia Langton, Aboriginal writer [3]

Resolving lateral violence

Governments are not likely to fix the issue. Instead, the solution must come from within Aboriginal communities, from Aboriginal people taking control and addressing the issue themselves.

To tackle lateral violence Richard J. Frankland suggests that you "out it. Name it for what it is, a destroyer of Indigenous culture and life. Publicly admit it is happening and then take steps and measures to deal with it... Find ways to deal with it, end it, eradicate it from our lives and communities." [1].

Others suggest to apply traditional ways of resolving disputes, such as learning and healing circles and shared care [4].

Addressing lateral violence will require courage, goodwill and determination. —Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner [8]

Out of respect for Aboriginal culture I use Indigenous sources as much as possible.
[1] 'A frank discussion on tackling black lateral violence', NIT 14/5/2009 p.21 [2] 'Lateral violence', Koori Mail, 28/2/2007 [3] 'Hostages to men's business', The Australian, 8/11/2008 [4] 'Expert warns over bullying', Koori Mail 475 p.38 [5] 'Communities warned of 'lateral violence'', Koori Mail 503 p.12 [6] 'Feeling let down', readers letter, Koori Mail 511 p.25 [7] 'Laws 'feeding' violence: Gooda', Koori Mail 513 p.13 [8] 'Violence an issue we must address: Gooda', Koori Mail 515 p.11 [9] 'Uni racism finding in new report', Koori Mail 515 p.26