Bullying is a problem that is a problem in today's society. Bullying is any type of unwanted behavior towards an individual on repeated occasions that represents a demonstration of power over someone. Bullying is prevalent primarily among students at school and, unfortunately, it also occurs in other places, such as at home between parents and children and, on rare occasions, among adults. When people first began to identify bullying for what it is, it was only known as physical aggression towards others, but over time, bullying has moved from simple physical bullying to verbal bullying and the abuse of power over workplace between colleagues in different ranks. In a book called Welfare Brat: A Memoir, Mary was bullied at school by street kids and, unfortunately, was verbally bullied by her mother. Bullying among children in society is caused by several reasons and affects its victims negatively. Knowing the types of ways an individual can be bullied is important. The most common bullying among children at school is that which in most cases occurs physically: the child is hit, something that Mary and her brother Ralph experienced while growing up. For example, Mary's brother on several occasions came home from school with bruises he had received from being beaten by his classmates. Physical bullying occurs when a student tries to gain power over peers and to gain that power results in hitting, which in return is harmful to the victim. Physical bullying is the easiest type of bullying to identify, therefore making it a little easier to stop or control. Verbal bullying occurs when someone uses language to gain power over their peers, which happens by insulting classmates, making fun of them because or...... middle of paper...... body. According to Mary Childers, “Ralph is even tougher than me. I learned early not to bring home complaints about kids and teachers. . . Ralph's silence costs him more because his world is more dangerous than mine when I was young, and the boys face considerable physical threats” (160). Children need to be encouraged to have courage more often so that they can speak out and be supported. Although bullying continues to be a problem in our society, but especially in schools, all we can do is continue to educate children about right and wrong, letting them know the consequences of their actions for both the victim and the themselves. Additionally, parents can be more enlightened about how to raise their children in a healthier way so that they don't grow up seeking attention or power in the wrong way. Works cited. Children, Mary. Welfare Brat: A Memoir. Bloomsbury: 2005. Print.