Physical Appearance Case Study Strategy
Discrimination and harassment amongst students is surprisingly common in many schools, and sometimes happens beneath school staff’s radar, leaving large numbers of students feeling sad, angry, isolated, or ostracized. These actions affect the entire school climate — other students who witness these acts may feel unsafe, fearful, or pressured by their peers to participate. Subtle comments and messages can move quickly between students, leaving adults and students feeling helpless, not knowing how to effectively prevent such cruel behavior.
One of the most common types of harassment reported by students is being teased or excluded based on physical appearance. An individual might be targeted for not looking a certain way or for having a particular prominent feature. As adults, we can counteract this kind of cruel behavior by giving students opportunities to better understand the impact of hurtful comments, develop empathy, and practice compassion in their day-to-day lives.
Currently, our Physical Appearance Case Study strategy is available to schools in our Caring Schools Network. Email Glenn Manning at glenn_manning@gse.harvard.edu or book a call to learn more about Caring Schools Network.
Note: We are currently piloting Listening Deeply in grades K-5. Fill out this interest form to access the pilot strategy.
Last reviewed March 2020.
Overview
For: Educators, counselors, peer leaders, and anyone who works with youth
Ages: K-12
Resource Type: Strategy
Time Commitment: 1x/week; 5 times in total
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