The way bullying is always portrayed in America. How realistic is it?
In numerous American movies and TV shows set in high school, it seems bullying is very prevalent and visible. If you're unpopular, a nerd.etc, there's always one stereotypical bully who shoves you into lockers, calls you names, or even beats you up. I notice they dramatise things for entertainment but seriously, is this how it really is/was like for some people or do they exaggerate a lot?
I'm from Australia. I was that nerdy, shy kid but I was actually hardly bullied in high school...well at least to my face, lol. No name calling, physical abuse, or people giving me the cold shoulder or refusing to sit with me.etc. My shyness though prevented me from socialising that much. Yet there were two kids who used to push me around/playfight with me 'just for fun' and I didn't like it, but they later (well one of them, the other left) quite friendly. Anyway, maybe the fact I always went to the library and read at lunchtime helped? Indeed most of the popular kids were actually quite outwardly nice to me. There's this stereotype the popular kids are mean (e.g. Mean Girls) but I find it's often those who have their own problems that are worse. At least, I suppose, bullies whether Nelson Muntz or Brandon in this film are often shown to have overbearing parents/troubled families.
But yeah, even though I was like Dawn this definitely didn't represent my high school experience. I'm sure it hit home for some, but was bullying ever so blatant and mean-spirited? I'm 27, btw, so a few years younger than what Dawn would've mean (assuming she's say 13 in 1995).