Bullying is a big problem and it affects everyone - children, teens, young adults and sometimes even adults too.  Bullies can use words by teasing, name calling or threatening to hurt other people, but sometimes they hit, kick or push. Bullying is not a respectful way to treat your friends or anyone else.

People use labels such as slut, player, stud, easy, dyke, fag, ho, skank or cock-tease to make fun of people who they think have a lot of sex, don't have enough sex or have sex with people of the same sex.  Using these words is hurtful and does not respect others.

Labels are verbal violence and can lead to sexual or physical assault. When you stop using labels for other people you are helping to stop sexual violence.

Using the words slut, easy, ho and skank to describe a girl means that some people will think that she will not say no to sex.  That can lead to sexual violence as someone may not think they have to respect her or listen when she says no.  That is not true.  When it comes to sex, no always means no.  No means no, regardless of what labels people use to describe someone.  No one deserves to be assaulted.

Other girls are labeled as prude or a cock tease.  Using those words to describe someone shows that they/you don't respect her decision and her choice not to have sex.  It is always okay to say no to sex.

When a guy gets the label player or stud his friends may look up to him as being cool and in control of his relationships. This label may make it seem okay to be mean or to treat others badly. He may brag about the number of partners he has had and what he has done. All this behaviour really shows is a lack of respect for others.

It's the same, and sometimes worse, when a person is labeled as a queer, fag or a dyke. These are hurtful names to call people. No one deserves to be disrespected and harassed because of their relationships with people of the same sex. And, sometimes it goes beyond words and young people who are labeled as such are assaulted just because of the label.

Bullying takes many forms, and sexual words are just one of them.  You can show others that you respect yourself and your peers by doing the following:

• Choosing not to use labels, even if you are joking
• Telling other people that it makes you uncomfortable when they use those kinds of words around you
• Standing up for someone who is being labeled with any of those words, or other hurtful names
• Explaining to people who use those kinds of words how they are contributing to sexual violence

It is also a good idea to talk to someone you trust for help or advice.  When people are hurt physically or sexually as a result of bullying, the person who did it may be held responsible for a crime.