Covert Bullying and Silencing in the Arts

Today, November 8th, is the International Day Against Bullying.

Bullying is not always visible or organized.

It exists among adults just as much as among teenagers or children.

Covert bullying, also called indirect or psychological bullying, can be so hidden that victims struggle to recognize or describe their experiences.

People who speak up about violence, injustice, or corruption often face social exclusion, silencing, and reduced career opportunities after sharing their experiences.

Bullying is violence. And neutrality is a stance.

Examples of covert bullying include gossip, spreading of rumors, exclusion, ignoring, or silencing.

The methods used to silence women who challenge power structures are not new. They can be traced back to the earliest recorded laws, such as those from the reign of King Urukagina (24th century BCE) in Sumer:

“If a woman speaks […] disrespectfully(?) to a man, that woman’s mouth is crushed with a fired brick” (Lerner).

The term hysteria (from the Greek hystera, meaning womb) was long used to discredit women (Carta et al.).

Modern ways of silencing women work by undermining their credibility.

They’re called too angry, too emotional, ridiculous, or hysterical.

They’re often accused of playing the victim or misunderstanding situations.

They’re labeled difficult or crazy, and often simply ignored. Silenced.

Silencing also occurs when “uncomfortable voices” of any gender, those who challenge dominant power structures, are denied space in public discourse, media, or culture at large.

There are no active unions for the majority of people working in film and television production in Iceland, and the dense web of friendships and professional ties within a small community often prevents people in professional associations from taking a stand against those in power.

No formal venues or support systems exist for people who believe their rights have been violated. These are ideal conditions for corruption and abuse of power, where marginalized groups are particularly vulnerable to systemic discrimination, harassment, and exclusion.

In the 2024 Kulturanalys Norden report on threats, harassment, and violence experienced by artists in the Nordic countries, a clear increase was noted over the past three years.

Among the most serious consequences were artists leaving projects, avoiding certain topics, refraining from public appearances, and even taking measures to ensure their safety or seek outside support.

Of the Icelandic visual artists and authors surveyed, 41–43% reported having experienced threats, harassment, or violence at some point in their careers.

When the institutions people trust and turn to in the wake of trauma fail them, and when the harm they’ve suffered is not acknowledged, the damaging effects of that trauma multiply (Smith & Freyd). When no one is held accountable or faces consequences for their actions, violence and injustice are effectively given a societal “green light,” and continue unchallenged.

When silence protects power, the problem is systemic.

References:

Carta, M., Fadda, B., Rapetti M. og Tasca, C. 2012. „Women And Hysteria In The History Of Mental Health.“ Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health 8 (1): 110–119. https://doi.org/10.2174/1745017901208010110.

Kulturanalys Norden. 2024. Threats, Violence and Harassment against Artists and Authors in the Nordic Countries.Nordisk kulturfakta 2024:05. Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers. http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/nord2024-045.

Lerner, G. 1986.The Creation of Patriarchy.Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Smith, C., P. og Freyd, J., J. 2014. „Institutional Betrayal.” American Psychologist 69 (6): 575–87. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037564.