Moline Acres, MO — A mother is outraged that her daughter’s school suggested the 13-year-old undergo breast reduction surgery in order to stop being bullied.
Tammie Jackson said her daughter, Gabrielle, has been sexually harassed and bullied by other students because of her large breasts. Understandably upset, Jackson called the Riverview Gardens School District and was told that her daughter had two options — change schools, or get surgery .
Jackson said, “The lady on the switchboard said they could transfer my daughter and said her boobs were so large she’s gonna always get teased. And then she told me the only suggestion that she could make is for my 13-year-old daughter to get a breast reduction.”
Jackson added, “It makes me feel like now you are telling me it’s my fault, it’s God’s fault the way he made her. [The school should] talk with the kids, let them know, you know, people’s bodies are changing, everybody’s body is different but God made us all great.”
Superintendent Clive Coleman said school officials are investigating Jackson’s claim, but he believes it was a “product of miscommunication, interpretation of information.” Students at Central Middle School, however, are being counseled on how to resolve bullying issues.
Jackson said her 9-year-old son, Elijah, has also been bullied because of the way he looks. Elijah has a rare heart condition and he is often made fun of because of his surgical scars, she said.
Disturbingly, more and more teenagers are undergoing surgery in order to prevent being bullied. Last year, 14-year-old Nadia Ilse underwent an otoplatsy, a surgery to pin back the ears, because kids at school teased her for having “elephant ears.” According to the Huffington Post , nearly 219,000 surgeries had been performed on 13- to 19-year-olds, with otoplasties being the most popular.
