When words are weaponised

Wounding words: Saying ‘boys will be boys’ normalises violence against women and girls and dilutes accountability. — domesticshelters.org

MALAYSIA’S schools are facing a stark and disturbing crisis. Reported bullying cases surged from 3,887 in 2022 to 7,681 in 2024, which is a nearly 100% increase in two years. Among these numbers are horrifying incidents: a 14-year-old boy who stabbed a 16-year-old female classmate in Selangor, and a 15-year-old girl who was gang-raped in Melaka, with the assault recorded and circulated online.

The alarming increase in school violence has started an important conversation among parents, educators, and the general public. The fact is, these incidents are not isolated and they signal a wave of violence increasingly rooted in gendered online discourse.