Both boys and girls engage in bullying, and researchers continually examine the role of gender in bullying behavior. While gender can impact how students bully, there are many other influences that impact the behavior of our youth. Kids are overwhelmed with negative and harmful influences that create the “sea of mean” many of them live in day after day. Adults both in and out of schools and agencies must work together to both intervene in and prevent the “sea of mean” that threatens to tear down any semblance of kindness and decency left among our youth’s culture. This workshop will examine: 

• The latest research specific to gender and bullying 

• Current cultural norms and influences that encourage bullying and harassment among youth 

• The most recent research on the development of empathy in youth and specific strategies to facilitate this development  

• How to create climates of respect both in and out of school 

• Appropriate and creative disciplinary measures that engender accountability for bullying behavior 

• The digital life of youth and how to cross the “digital divide” to encourage safe and healthy digital engagement 

• Strategies and resources to address bullying and harassment.