Is school a place where the sexist and sexual violence that persists in our society is reproduced? This is, moreover, the conclusion of an OpinionWay barometer created for the NGO Plan International France, which works to promote children’s rights and equality between girls and boys, and which Franceinfo reports.
Cyberbullying, a mass phenomenon
The survey data is edifying and allows us to measure the extent of sexist and sexual violence in schools, as it is defined “all acts that aim to devalue, humiliate or attack a person on the basis of their real or perceived gender identity”. This violence can be “of a physical, verbal, psychological or sexual nature”which includes sexist behavior as well as sexual assault and rape.
A quarter of girls said they had experienced gender-based or sexual violence at school, but only two-thirds of them confided in anyone. In a third of cases the confidant is a friend; a third confided in their parents. Only 18% of victims contacted school staff.
In addition to sexual and gender-based violence, girls are also affected by cyberbullying. 38% were confronted with it9% were personally targeted, while 32% witnessed cyberharassment against another student.
66% of cyberbullying victims are also victims of sexist and sexual violence in their school.
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Insufficient support according to victims
The barometer also highlights students’ lack of trust in the educational institution and its staff. Two-thirds of people affected by cyberbullying believe that schools do not sufficiently support victims of this online violence..
The awareness-raising implemented in institutions against sexual and gender-based violence is also insufficient: only three out of ten girls benefited from speaking time on these issues. Less than one in two have already attended a cyber harassment prevention session.
As for the perpetrators of this violence, they are boys in the majority of cases (83%) but also young girls in 34% of cases. Violence or cyberharassment is more often a group phenomenon (6 cases out of 10) and has a strong impact on the victims’ education: 11% declare they have already avoided going to class.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
