Hazing as a Social Issue
Hazing is one of the most disturbing and widespread social issues in modern society. This behavior often goes unnoticed, which can have serious consequences for individuals. The danger of hazing is that it endangers members of society and can lead to a constant feeling of stress and anxiety. It requires a comprehensive counter-approach that involves societal reeducation and the introduction of stringent anti-hazing policies. The main question in the framework of this work is “What is hazing as a social issue, and what measures can be taken to mitigate it?”
Description of Hazing
Before discussing how to limit hazing in modern society, it is necessary to fully understand the phenomenon under consideration. Research stated that this problem involves “a wide range of hazing behaviors, including activities that cause physical and psychological harm, involve high-risk substance abuse, and sexual violence” (Allan et al. 2). This kind of behavior implies causing mental or physical harm to individuals by means of involving them in various dangerous or humiliating activities.
Consequences of Hazing
Particular attention must be paid to the consequences of experiencing such behavior as hazing. Trenholm et al. state that depression and suicide directly result from hazing (1). Therefore, victims rarely fully recover from this trauma and continue to struggle with its consequences. Additionally, hazing often occurs within a group or team and can go unnoticed. Fávero et al. found that the most vulnerable victims can be identified through specific characteristics, such as gender, education level, and hierarchy degree (7). This factor emphasizes that any individual can become a victim of this issue.
Another reason is the lack of proper awareness about hazing. Research indicated that “the practice was first documented by Plato in Athens in 387 BCE (Ellsworth, 2004) and continues today” (Huysamer and Seroto 1). Jeckell et al. highlight that the problem of hazing receives insufficient attention in mainstream discussions (2). Although this problem has existed for a long time, it has still not received sufficient attention. At the same time, despite this early account, studies emphasize the limited research on this topic (Fávero et al. 1831). Oversimplification, exaggeration, or disregard for such initiation rituals erodes the seriousness of this issue and undermines its legitimacy.
Works Cited
Allan, Elizabeth J., David Kerschner, and Jessica M. Payne. “College Student Hazing Experiences, Attitudes, and Perceptions: Implications for Prevention.” Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, vol. 56, no. 1, 2019, pp. 32-48.
Fávero, Marisalva, et al. “Hazing Violence: Practices of Domination and Coercion in Hazing In Portugal.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence, vol. 33, no. 11, 2018, pp. 1830-1851.
Huysamer, Carolyn, and Johannes Seroto. “Hazing Practices in South African Schools: A Case of Grade 12 Learners in Gauteng Province.” SAGE Open, vol. 11, no. 3, 2021.
Jeckell, Aaron Slone, et al. “The Spectrum of Hazing and Peer Sexual Abuse in Sports: A Current Perspective.” Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, vol. 10, no. 6. 2018, pp. 558–564.
Nuwer, Hank. “Hazing Quotes.” AZ Quotes, no date. Web.
Trenholm, Jill, et al. “I Don’t Know How We Can Stop Ragging”: A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of Staff and Work-Affiliated Individuals at a Sri Lankan University, on the Phenomena of Ragging. Contemporary South Asia, 2023, pp. 1–16.