Why do victims remain silent? An ethical reflection on the phenomenon of school bullying in China

School bullying is widespread, and a common phenomenon is that those who are bullied remain silent, rather than talking about their experiences. This paper explores a case of victim silence through the recollections of a woman who was bullied at school. Drawing on Levinas' concept of the '...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEthics and education Vol. 20; no. 2-3; pp. 257 - 278
Main Authors Yu, Xiaoting, Reiss, Michael J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Routledge 03.07.2025
Subjects
ethical relationships
Levinas
otherness
School bullying
silence
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Summary:School bullying is widespread, and a common phenomenon is that those who are bullied remain silent, rather than talking about their experiences. This paper explores a case of victim silence through the recollections of a woman who was bullied at school. Drawing on Levinas' concept of the 'Other' and the notion of the 'underworld', we analyse why victims remain silent and the educational issues underpinning their silence. The study shows that children create their own world, with unique social rules and secrecy norms that exclude adults. Educators often ignore this hidden world, choosing control over listening. This paper argues for a shift from a logic of control to a logic of listening in education, where teachers welcome and respond to students as Others. In doing so, schools can foster an ethical relationship that affirms dignity and rejects bullying.
ISSN:1744-9642
1744-9650
DOI:10.1080/17449642.2025.2503641