‘Nothing I had was left in peace’ – narratives on extended victimisation through the bullying of belonging(s)

This article considers extended victimisation through the bullying of personal belongings in schools. Drawing on seven first-person narratives from Swedish and Finnish adults who experienced school bullying, the study employs reflexive thematic analysis informed by narrative theory to explore how belongings shape bullying experiences. The analysis identifies three key themes, constant vigilance, constrained autonomy and devalued pride, to demonstrate how the targeting of belongings contributes to an extended and symbolic form of harm. Grounded in theories of performativity and posthuman performativity, the study highlights how objects intertwine with identity, agency, and social dynamics. Findings reveal that belongings are not passive but carry emotional and symbolic significance; their manipulation or destruction reinforces marginalisation and disrupts victims’ sense of self and belonging. The article argues for a broader conceptualisation of bullying that includes material dimensions and calls for educational practices that recognise and protect the emotional and symbolic value of students’ belongings.