A lot of people are the victim of hazing, and any one of them will tell you that it is not a nice experience. It is an activity that is carried out often with students, but it can also appear in the workplace or in a group of friends, where if a new person joins, they need to do a certain activity to be accepted. These activities usually center around humiliation, emotional risk, degradation, and even physical harm. Hazing is a criminal offense that can more often than not be punished by imprisonment or with a fine, given victims have the option to pursue civil claims. If you have been the victim of hazing and you aren’t too sure about what to do, then you are in the right place, as this article is going to discuss how you can move forward if it is happening.
Leave the Group
This is often the hardest thing to do, but it is also one of the most effective options available to you. Remember that it is always an option and that if you can walk away from hazing, you are massively proving your strength. If anyone begins to tell you that leaving is a sign of weakness or that you’re leaving because you simply weren’t tough enough to take it, then you shouldn’t listen to them. You will feel a lot better if you walk away from the group, and there are likely others who may feel the same way and will be inspired by your actions.
Not to mention, the punishment for hazing can be imprisonment or being demanded to pay compensation. Once you leave the group, you will be able to reach out to the right attorneys in order to pursue a hazing lawsuit. This could mean that you end up receiving some money, and also, those who were responsible will be condemned for their actions.
Talk to Others
Again, it takes real strength to reach out to other people and tell them about your problems, but doing so will help you massively. If you have a look for people who have been in your group before and left or who have been in a separate group under similar circumstances, you will feel like a weight has been lifted by telling them about your experience and hearing that you’re not alone in that experience. Talking to others really does help and is certainly something you should consider doing.
Refuse to Get Involved
Again, this is a big ask because not a lot of people like being a part of hazing, but they go along with it because they feel like they need to do so. If this is the same with you, try simply standing up and refusing to do it. You won’t be the first, and you won’t be the last person, and once again, this is a real show of strength that others in the group are likely going to look up to you for.