From Playground Bullies to Workplace Abusers: The Urgent Need to Correct Bullying in Childhood

By Nyasha B. Dube

Bullying is often dismissed as a childhood phase, something children will eventually outgrow. But what happens when they don’t? The reality is that many child bullies evolve into adult perpetrators of workplace harassment, using their positions of power to intimidate, manipulate and even abuse others, particularly women. The same toxic behaviors that go unchecked in childhood can manifest in more sophisticated and harmful ways in adulthood. 

Addressing bullying in childhood isn’t just about creating safer schools; it’s about shaping a society where workplaces, homes and communities are free from gender-based violence (GBV). If we want to dismantle workplace harassment and abuse, we must start by confronting and correcting these behaviors in children before they take root and grow into systemic problems. 

The Evolution of a Bully: From Playground to Boardroom

Bullying in childhood is rarely an isolated behavior. It stems from a need for control, a lack of empathy and an environment that either encourages aggression or fails to challenge it. When left unchecked, these tendencies don’t disappear—they evolve. 

A child who bullies others for their lunch money or excludes classmates from games often grows into a teenager who manipulates social circles or pressures others into silence. As an adult, the same individual may use their authority in the workplace to belittle colleagues, block career progress or engage in sexual harassment, knowing they can get away with it. 

The correlation between childhood bullying and later antisocial behavior is well-documented. Studies show that boys who display aggressive bullying behaviors in childhood are more likely to engage in domestic violence, sexual harassment and workplace intimidation as adults. This means the “boy will be boys” mentality is not just problematic—it’s dangerous. 

How Bullying Translates into Workplace Abuse

While childhood bullying is often physical or verbal, workplace bullying takes on more subtle but equally damaging forms, such as: 

Verbal Abuse and Harassment: Demeaning remarks, belittling female colleagues or making inappropriate jokes at their expense. 

Exclusion and Undermining: Keeping women out of decision-making spaces, silencing their ideas or sabotaging their work. 

Exploiting Power Dynamics: Using authority to pressure women into uncomfortable situations or demanding compliance through intimidation. 

Sexual Harassment: Making unwanted advances, inappropriate comments or coercing female employees into silence through threats. 

These behaviors create toxic work environments where women feel unsafe, undervalued, and unable to advance in their careers. Worse, they perpetuate a cycle where abusers face little to no consequences, reinforcing the belief that power grants impunity. 

Why Correcting Childhood Bullying is Critical 

1. Empathy and Accountability Start Early

   Children are not born bullies. They learn these behaviors through their environments, whether it’s witnessing aggression at home, absorbing toxic masculinity messages in media or observing adults using power abusively. Teaching children empathy, emotional intelligence and accountability from a young age helps prevent the formation of abusive tendencies. 

2. Intervening Early Prevents Long-Term Harm

   If a child exhibits bullying behavior, they need to be corrected immediately. Schools, parents and communities must work together to: 

   
   

   • Identify and address root causes of bullying, such as insecurity, exposure to violence or a need for control. 

   • Teach healthy conflict resolution so that children learn to handle disagreements without aggression. 

   • Model respectful behavior by ensuring that adults in their lives demonstrate kindness and accountability. 

   • Enforce consequences that teach responsibility rather than reinforce harmful behaviors through inaction. 

     
     

3. Creating a Culture of Zero Tolerance for Abuse

When society excuses childhood bullying as a “phase,” it normalizes a culture where abuse is tolerated. Instead, we must create environments, both in schools and workplaces, where abusive behavior is met with real consequences. This teaches children that their actions matter and that respect for others is non-negotiable. 

Breaking the Cycle of Gender-Based Violence

At Bertha’s Place, we believe in stopping GBV at its roots by addressing toxic behaviors before they escalate. We advocate for: 

• Stronger interventions in schools to correct bullying behavior early. 

• Community programs that teach boys empathy, respect and emotional intelligence.

• Workplace policies that protect women from harassment and ensure accountability for abusers.

  
  

Ending workplace abuse starts with confronting its origins in childhood. If we want a future where women can thrive in safe environments, we must be proactive in shaping boys into men who lead with respect, not dominance.