Revictimizing The Victim

What do I mean when I say revictimizing the victim? It is when the target of bullying and harassment strikes back and is punished.

School investigates possible hate crime after Hercules High brawl
KTVU
Posted: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

HERCULES, Calif. —

Police and school officials in Contra Costa County were investigating a possible hate crime Thursday after a transgender student who claimed to have been bullied was involved in a brawl with three girls at Hercules High.

According to school officials, the problems began when the transgender student -- a male teen who identifies as female -- said she was bullied by the two girls in question on Tuesday. After the bullying continued on Wednesday, the transgender student responded by attacking the two girls.

A fight ensued with a third girl joining the fray and attacking the transgender student.
[…]
The four students were not attending class Thursday, but they were being interviewed by district officials as the school evaluated possible disciplinary action.

KGO reported that,

School officials say the transgender student initiated the physical contact, but only after she was verbally assaulted.

"After being under stressful situations day after day of being teased and talked about, obviously at some point you're going to explode," said Charles Ramsey with the West Contra Costa School Board.

The transgender student complained to school administrators about being bullied just two days ago and a warning was given to the other students involved.

A school official said about the incident,

...where administrators are hoping that talking about it will lead to heightened awareness and greater tolerance on campus.

That is closing the proverbial barn door after the horses ran out. They should have had diversity training long before it escalated in to violence.




Then in another incident of bullying here in Connecticut, the school handled it in an entirely different way,

Four Manchester High Students Suspended; Sex Bias Inquiry Launched
The Hartford Courant
By Jesse Leavenworth
November 14, 2013

MANCHESTER — School administrators have suspended four Manchester High School students suspected of creating and posting degrading descriptions of female students, and the superintendent said Thursday that the boys' actions go beyond cyber bullying.

"This is a form of sexual discrimination, or sexual harassment, and we're required under federal statutes to conduct an investigation," interim School Superintendent Richard Kisiel said.

Kisiel was referring to Title IX, which says in part that no person may be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

In an overlapping investigation, Manchester police are looking into the case "to see what the scope of the incident was and whether it would fall into the criminal realm," department spokesman Capt. Christopher Davis said. Davis said charges for cyber bullying could include breach of peace or harassment.

What a difference it makes when the school system is proactive instead of reactive.

Also note how the TV station described the victim, “a male teen who identifies as female” further marginalizing her.