Pit is 4 out of 5 young people a woman can escape to sexual intercourse if he really doesn’t want it. One in 5 believes that girls can provoke sexual violence if they display provocative clothing or behavior. For 1 in 5 it is not violence to touch private parts without consent. And nearly 1 in 3 say many people who identify as non-binary/fluid/trans are just following a current trend. Italian teenagers agree on those who commit acts of violence in our country. Boys, especially if in groups, and adult men. These are some particularly hot spots that emerged from the survey”Young people and peer violence” conducted by Ipsos for ActionAid on a representative sample of around 800 girls and boys aged between 14 and 19.
Sexual violence according to young people: so much confusion
The research captured adolescents’ opinions on what they think violence is, how they react and defend themselves from it and how much gender stereotypes and prejudices influence their experiences. And it glaringly reveals that there is a lot of confusion about which behaviors are violent and which are not.
The very serious episodes of violence which were concentrated, in particular, in the summer period therefore seem to be the tip of the iceberg. Maria Sole Piccioli, Head of Education at ActionAid explains it this way: «Violence among adolescents has its roots in patriarchal societywhich still today influences the growth process of new generations and does not allow the foundations to be subverted rape culture”.
Sexual education according to Minister Valditara? It is not enough
Hence the belief that «Minister Valditara’s proposal to introduce sexual education in high schools cannot be enough».
The minister’s plan will start from September in secondary schools. The ministry’s project includes a focus on gender equality and must involve strong student involvement. The model is that of “peer education”, with self-managed lessons held by the students themselves. As well as some held by experts. It is not yet clear whether the project will concern all high school students, or only those in the three-year period. In any case, the novelty should be extended until November 25, the international day against violence against women.
What is missing in Italian schools
«Instead,» explains Maria Sole Piccioli, «one is necessary compulsory co-designed training for teachers and students of all school cycles with autonomous and lay expert staff, the presence at school of prevention mentor and case management. They must be introduced anti-harassment codes, neutral bathrooms and Alias Careers. We ask the Ministry of Education and Merit to integrate the 2017 national compliance education plan and stable funds for spaces and psychological supportwhich must be present in every educational institution.”
At the heart of ActionAid’s requests is an education in affectivity and sexuality which does not only focus on the biological aspects, but also on the psychological, social and emotional ones, as recommended by UNESCO and the WHO (these are the objectives of Youth For Love, the program active for over four years at Italian and European level, made in Italy by ActionAid).
Why you become a victim of sexual violence
But because one becomes the object of violence? In first place, according to the Ipsos survey, physical characteristics are indicated (50%), then sexual orientation (40%) and gender (36%). The first damage indicated by 27% of interviewees, without distinction of gender, is psychological malaise. In second place isolation and depression (21%). In third place discomfort and shame (18%).
Boys and girls who suffer violence do not always report it. The main reason is the shame in telling it to the adult world, followed by the fear of telling it and the futility of the complaint, fear of further threats from the attacker. The highest frequency of violent acts suffered is recorded in the 17-19 age group, which may derive from a greater awareness of what is being experienced.
What is violence? For 80% of young people, four out of five, it is violence to touch someone’s private parts without their consent, while one in five does not recognize this violence. In second place is considered violence to hit someone, a behavior that registers 79% of the consents, by far the one most cited by males. In third place, with 78%, taking photos/videos in intimate situations and spreading them to other people, especially for girls with 84% of the mentions.
What do girls risk?
Who suffers it? Girls, more than boys, experience acts of peer violence more frequentlyin whatever form it manifests itself. Much more often than their peers they witness gossip, teasing, insults, jokes, exclusion of people from groups, situations in which a person’s private parts are touched without their consent, the non-consensual diffusion of photos and videos of situations in time.
Also, girls are more likely to receive verbal harassment while walking on the street, being touched in the private parts, being the victim of jokes or comments of a sexual nature and the diffusion of photos/videos which portray them in intimate situations. Boys, on the other hand, are mainly at risk of being beaten and transgender/fluid/non-binary people being insulted.
The Ipsos research is carried out with the 8×1000 funds of the Soka Gakkai Italian Buddhist Institute.
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