The consequences of the pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and the economy are the main concerns of children and adolescents, according to the latest Unicef report
The sexism It continues to worry Spanish children and youth, but less. Just three years ago, the gender inequality and the sexist violence generated a lot of concern among preadolescents and adolescents. 89% of them considered it as one of their main reasons for uneasiness, as reflected in the first barometer of opinion on childhood and adolescence prepared by Unicef (2019-20). In the second edition of the report (2020-21), the percentage was reduced to 80% while in the fourth (2021-22) it has been 75.1%.
20% of those surveyed say that caring for children is basically a female job
Prepared after interviewing 9,505 boys and girls from 11 to 18 years old in 208 educational centers, the report of the United Nations Children’s Fund -presented today in Madrid- has two readings. a positive: macho violence is not around these boys and girls and, as a consequence, they reduce their importance. The negative reading it is that minors do not seem to give social relevance to machismo, which continues to be a huge problem in society. Above all, taking into account the current rise among adolescents, an issue that generates discomfort in high schools, where there are many boys who are openly macho and where disrespect for teachers is skyrocketing.
The Unicef barometer reflects that the main concern of boys and girls between 11 and 18 years It is the coronavirus pandemic and its consequencesan aspect that has dropped considerably compared to the previous report, given the lesser virulence of covid-19. The invasion of Ukraine by Putin’s army and the economy of Spain occupy, in very similar percentages, the second and third place in the list of concerns. Only one in ten interviewees says that the economic and political situation in Spain is good or very good.
“As they get older, there is an increase in concerns about their future job prospects”
“The irruption of the war in Ukraine among the main concerns of childhood and adolescence shows that children and adolescents are not oblivious to the reality that surrounds them. As they get older, in addition, there is an increase in concerns about their future job prospects,” he explains. Francisco José Rivera, author of the study and professor at the University of Seville.
After the coronavirus, the war at the gates of Europe and the economy, the next headache for kids is the environment and educationfollowed by the gender inequality and machismo.
The barometer reflects that, despite the fact that the economy is one of the main concerns of pre-adolescents and adolescents, work and the future perspective ranks number nine. In any case, the chances of finding a job and prospects for the future It worries more -logically- those who are 17 and 18 years old than those who are between 11 and 16.
They care, they are police
Boys, girls and adolescents are generally convinced that jobs can be performed by both men and women. Nevertheless, 20% of the sample states that caring for children is basically a female jobSomething similar -although to a lesser extent- happens with cleaning and nursing jobs. Meanwhile, 19.6% are in favor of the fact that policemen be “only or above all & rdquor; men and 11% of boys (compared to 1.7% of girls) consider that being an entrepreneur is a man’s job.
The idea also persists that there are vital attitudes more typical of one sex than of another. One in ten respondents state that being dominant or leader is a masculine facet while express affection or want to look good physically corresponds to the feminine sphere.
The institution that kids between the ages of 11 and 18 trust the most is the scientific community (something that has a logical explanation after the pandemic). In fact, most of the participants in the barometer consider that the medicine is the best profession, followed by teaching. After scientists, non-governmental organizations and educational centers are the other institutions in which minors trust the most. On the contrary, the Government and the political parties occupy the last positions.
Mental health
Regarding emotional well-being, the report reveals that the life satisfaction of children and adolescents is high. However, almost the 40% of respondents say they feel lonelythe highest percentage of the three editions of the barometer, which also makes it clear that the level of sadness increases in the case of girls, people born outside of Spain or with low purchasing power.