Content Warning: Mental Health Challenges (Anxiety, Depression and Emotional Distress) Bullying (Verbal Abuse and Exclusion)
Welcome to a world where the unshakable bond of two sisters, Pearl and Jodie, overcomes all odds. In Jacqueline Wilson’s “My Sister Jodie,” we meet two exceptional characters, each with their distinct quirks and qualities. Pearl, the calm and introspective bookworm, finds an ideal match in Jodie, the lively and rebellious firecracker. Regardless of their disparities, their sisterly friendship endures, providing as a beacon of strength and endurance in the face of life’s difficulties. Join me on an emotional journey through their experiences, as the force of sisterhood triumphs.
Bullying in My Sister Jodie
Bullying is an ongoing issue in Jacqueline Wilson’s novel “My Sister Jodie” that significantly impacts the lives of the primary protagonists, particularly Jodie. During the novel, Jodie is subjected to constant verbal abuse, discrimination, and occasional physical intimidation by her boarding school classmates. Jodie is subjected to constant discomfort, including pinches, pushes in class and corridors, and hateful taunts such as “Jumbo Jodie,” which are completely inappropriate anywhere and should not be permitted.
This illustration of bullying underlines the significance of legislative protections against such behavior in Wales. Bullying has no legal definition, but it is commonly described as an action that causes physical or emotional harm to another person and can occur anywhere – at school, at home, or online.
According to the Office for National Statistics for bullying and online experiences among children in England and Wales: year ending March 2023 found that approximately 1,544,000 children aged 10 to 15 years (34.9%) experienced in-person bullying, while 847,000 children (19.1%) experienced internet bullying in the previous year.
Every school in Wales is legally required to combat bullying adequately. Several laws and procedures exist to protect children and adolescents from abuse, including bullying. These include the Equality Act 2010, the Education and Inspections Act 2006, the Education Act 2002, and the Rights of Children and Young People (Wales) Measure 2011. These legislative frameworks all emphasize the importance of ensuring safe and inclusive settings in which bullying is unequivocally condemned and promptly addressed.
- The Equality Act 2010: involves hostile and bullying behavior, but it may also include activities that, whether purposefully or accidentally, offend a person because of a classified attribute. You are protected from discrimination in education and other places.
- The Education and Inspections Act 2006: mandates the headteacher of a maintained school to devise strategies to promote positive conduct and respect for others while also preventing all types of bullying among students.
- The Education Act 2002: lays a responsibility on schools to protect all students and offer a safe, healthy environment.
- The Rights of Children and Young People (Wales) Measure 2011: this measure requires Welsh Ministers to consider the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) when deciding matters affecting children and young people in Wales. The UNCRC contains measures aimed at safeguarding children from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including bullying.
Nobody should be bullied. Bullying causes people to feel hurt, isolated, and unhappy. If you are being bullied, you should tell your teacher. They should listen to you. They should take your words seriously. They must take steps to stop bullying. If communication with a teacher does not make things better, consider reaching out to someone else. You can speak to a friend, parent, or caretaker. Contact Meic if you are having difficulty communicating with someone at school or home. This free helpline is available for children and young people to discuss their concerns from 8 a.m. to midnight every day.
Are you interested in learning more about the rights of Wales’ children and young people, or are you looking for further resources to combat bullying? Please explore Sam’s Story, a resource by Children’s Commissioner for Wales, for extra insights.
Mental Health in My Sister Jodie
As the story progresses, mental health emerges as an important issue, notably in Jodie’s character development. Her encounters with bullying, combined with the stresses of home life, negatively impacts her emotional health.
This portrayal emphasizes the significance of mental health support and understanding within the legislative framework of Wales. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health is “a state of mental well-being that allows people to deal with life’s stressors, realize their potential, study, and work effectively, while contributing to their community.”
An estimated three children and young people in every classroom (or one in eight overall) has a diagnosable mental health condition. Many more face difficulties such as bullying and grief. Children, young people, and their parents and carers are the most likely to approach the Children’s Commissioner for Wales with mental health concerns.
In Wales, the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 aims to support the mental wellbeing of young people.
What is it?
It is aimed to guarantee that mental health services are delivered more properly to people’s specific needs. It also makes provision for
- primary mental health support services,
- the organisation of and arranging for secondary mental health services,
- assessments of the demands of former users of secondary mental health services,
- independent advocacy for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (a law that assists doctors and other professionals in determining how to care for those suffering from mental illnesses)
- and other persons acquiring in-patient hospital treatment for mental health.
Why was it made?
To ensure that everyone in Wales has access to the mental health services they require.
What does it do?
Ensures that children and adults have access to quality health care. Helps people seek help as soon as they need it. Ensures that services are easy for people to understand and use. Gives patients more to say over the care they receive.
Remember
It is okay to express your feelings and seek assistance. Discover resources on children’s mental health in Wales at Children’s Legal Centre Wales Children’s Mental Health in Wales | Children’s Legal Centre Wales (childrenslegalcentre.wales)
Many agencies and resources are available to assist people with mental health problems. A few of these include Young Minds Crisis Messenger (text “YM” to 85258), Childline (phone 0800 1111), and Samaritans (call 116 123).
About Me
My name is Weronika Szarmacher, I am a third-year law student at Swansea University. As a child, I was drawn by stories like “My Sister Jodie” without realizing how profoundly they would shape my perspective of the presence of law in our daily lives. As I continue my legal studies, I am continually impressed by the ways in which narrative may shed light on the intricacies of the legal landscape. In the future I would like to become a solicitor.
Thanks goes to Jodi Winter of CJCH Solicitors for proof reading this student blog.