Adolescents’ perception of gender differences in bullying

Abstract

Gender norms are normative societal expectations regarding the behaviors of girls and boys that can guide bullying behavior. As early adolescence is a time when peer relations become increasingly important, it is critical to understand the peer relationships of adolescents and what is considered gender non‐confirming behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze Swedish girls’ and boys’ perception of gender differences in bullying. Twenty‐one Swedish adolescents (8 girls and 13 boys) took part in four focus group discussions separated by boys and girls. Data analysis was conducted using qualitative content analysis. “Expectations and needs to fit the norm” emerged as the main category as all categories emerging from the analysis related to boys’ and girls’ understandings of how expectations, strategies, expressions relating to bullying and the need to belong vary depending on gender. Further, girls and boys expressed admiration for each other's ways of coping with bullying indicating that also coping strategies are associated with expectations based on gender. For schools and adults to be better equipped to meet the needs of girls and boys and understand how these needs are expressed, adolescents voices regarding gender related bullying can be seen as helpful tools to develop strategies to work with gender norms and gender expectations. In light of the results of our study, schools may have work to do when it comes to the awareness of norms and attitudes and how they are expressed as these may be a foundation for bullying, among both staff and students.

Gender and age variables of bullying in organized sport: Is bullying “grown out of”?

“…This is also confirmed by other studies showing that physical aggression among boys is more acceptable and becomes particularly desirable if one wants to be popular (Guerra et al, 2011). Gender differences are also evident analysing bullying as a subset of aggression (Hellström and Beckman, 2019).…”

“…Gender patterns in antisocial and aggressive behaviour have been evident over time. Analysing behaviour in the aspect of gender, it is stated that antisocial behaviour is more often demonstrated by male representatives (Hellström and Beckman, 2019). Comparing it with violence and aggression, the same trend is seen, where men are more inclined to demonstrate aggression in their behaviour than women, and this is especially true speaking about direct physical aggression (Fagan and Lindsey, 2014).…”

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“…In terms of gender differences (Silva, Pereira, Mendonça, Nunes, & de Oliveira, 2013;Hellström, & Beckman, 2020), boys tend to engage more in physical aggressions (Rosen, & Nofziger, 2019;Ploeg, Steglich, & Veenstra, 2020;Card, Stucky, Sawalani & Little, 2008;Hay, 2007;Archer, 2004). Also, girls engage more in relational aggression (Eriksen, & Lyng, 2018;Crick & Grotpeter, 1995), while verbal aggression is used equally by girls and boys (Fares, Ramirez, Cabrera, Lozano, & Salas, 2011).…”

Methodological Analysis of the Effect of an Anti-Bullying Programme in Secondary Education through Communicative Competence: A Pre-Test–Post-Test Study with a Control-Experimental Group

“…Regarding the female gender, it is they who often manifest behaviours related to insult and social isolation [18]. For this reason, schools must work with respect to the awareness of the norms and perceptions of the students, as well as on how they express themselves, since they can lay the foundation for bullying prevalence [19].…”