Beliefs about gender violence. Sexism in adolescent relationships

This paper explores the relationships in adolescence, examining beliefs about gender violence from a cognitive-developmental perspective. The sample consists of 297 students from 3 different state-subsidized schools, between the ages of 13-18 (2nd and 4th years of Secondary Education and 2nd year of High School). The students’ representations of relationships are analyzed from the point of view of both genders and the degree to which they consider violence to be justified. The study is based upon a transversal design (quasi-experimental) with survey. The instrument used is an adaptation of the Cuestionario de Actitudes hacia la Diversidad y la Violencia (Questionnaire of Attitudes towards Diversity and Violence). The results demonstrate a partial relationship between moral-evolutionary development and the degree of justification applied to different situations in which there is violence. The data shows that the acceptance of sexist beliefs and the justification of violence decrease as students get older. However, from 15-16 years old (4th ESO) is the age at which students most justify gender stereotypes. The study indicates middle- adolescence as the ideal time to carry out psycho-educational interventions, taking into account the values related to equality and respect between genders.