Homophobic Bullying: Why Children Should Stop Using Homophobic Language In Innocent Name-Calling Banter

Children are always interested in becoming adults for some odd reason. For this purpose, they always try to imitate what they see adults doing. This is also often seen in babies, who start imitating their parents at a very tender age.

As children grow, however, they start speaking words that they don't even know the meanings. For instance, homophobic terms such as "gay" and "lesbian" are pretty common in everyday talk and children use these words even in schools.

Unfortunately, these words are used by children in a negative way — sometimes to show hatred, or anger and sometimes to bully someone. In Ireland, primary children are restricted to use such words.

According to Teach Primary, in the past few years, a huge number of principals were faced with the same issue. They somehow didn't tell the kids why using homophobic languages are not allowed instead, they just dismissed the issue on children name-calling someone as gay, lesbian or even faggot because it's only innocent banter and the kids didn't know the meaning of the words they're saying.

But some concerned experts hoped that by restricting young children from using such language, the evil must be nipped in its bud. Little children might develop the habit of calling people by homophobic names whenever they feel aggression towards someone and that might become a part of their personality.

As reported by The Independent, Dublin City University researchers have suggested that keeping children from using such homophobic words should be part of a general awareness program. The main purpose of which is to inform the child that such a way of speaking is considered bad or arrogant and it is ill-mannered.

Adults or parents should also abstain themselves from using such words, as they are the role models for their children. To restrict a child from a specific task could not be achieved with violence or abuse, they should be convinced by love, care and reasoning.

Since children are very receptive to their surroundings, they are also very open to learning anything that comes in their observation. So, parents must take note on weighing their words twice before uttering them from their mouth in front of children.