The Language of Ethics and Double Standards in the Affective and Sexual Socialization of Youth. Communicative Acts in the Family Environment as Protective or Risk Factors of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

One of the explanatory factors for the perpetuation of intimate partner violence (IPV) is the socialization process. There is broad literature on the role of family in socializing gender roles and the influence on reproducing IPV. However, less research has been developed on the effects of communicative acts in the family environment as a protective or risk factor in front of IPV. This article presents sound evidence confirming the presence of language of ethics that is reproducing stereotyped models of attraction in heterosexual relationships, which empties good people of attractiveness and indirectly contributes to maintain the link between desire and aggressiveness. The language of ethics is characterized by integrating speech acts that exclusively include ethics and exclude desire when talking about egalitarian boys or men. To analyze this reality, a qualitative study has been conducted framed in the communicative methodology. This methodology has been recommended by the European Commission to conduct research on vulnerable groups and social inequalities, which has the aim to advance knowledge on social transformation. Drawing on this approach, three different data-collection techniques have been implemented: in-depth interviews, daily-life stories and focus groups. The fieldwork includes a sample of 52 young men and women between the ages of 18 and 23 from a vocational training high school, and 4 fathers and 4 mothers of some of these young people. The findings confirm the existence of a model of socialization that replicates family relations based on the maintenance of the double standards. Thus, mothers used to employ the language of ethics with their daughters fostering a controversial effect, that is, the latter prefer to start affective and sexual relationships with boys who are aggressive and not egalitarian. On the other hand, fathers used to employ language of desire with their sons stimulating the performance of chauvinist behaviors that denigrate women and girls.

Relations With the Educational Community and Transformative Beliefs Against Gender-Based Violence as Preventive Factors of Sexual Violence in Secondary Education

“…In this dominion-submission scheme, adolescents' acceptance of it is very important because, on many occasions, the socializing dynamics (especially from the media and among adolescents themselves) encourage the association between attraction and domain or, similarly, between attraction and violence (Valls, et al, 2008;Elboj, et al, 2009). In these and other works (Gómez, 2015;Rios-González, et al 2018), the close relationship between the messages that are transmitted in the different interactions with other agents of socialization and the assumption of exclusionary beliefs can lead to situations of sexual violence, either as an aggressor, as a victim, and although less explored by the literature, as a bystander.…”

“…In relation to the discussion above and according to Gómez (2015) and Rios-González et al (2018), the eradication of possible sexual violence among adolescents requires preventive actions that begin in the schools of secondary education or, even before secondary education. by analyzing the interaction processes that adolescents maintain with their environment and the beliefs that are assumed from these interactions.…”

“…In this sense, school appears to be an ideal place to work on respect and nonviolence and, in turn, beliefs in relation to these issues and how they are shaped through interactions, as specified by Racionero, et al (2018). To this end, not only classmates and other educational agents must be considered but also family influence, given that the family's socializing role is fundamental in the conformation of affective-sexual behaviors, as emphasized by Rios-González, et al (2018); therefore, it is necessary to promote the participation of families in preventive socialization.…”

“…Specifically, the degree of agreement with the statements "The man who seems aggressive is more attractive" and "It is justified that a man assaults his wife or his girlfriend when she decides to leave him" is measured. A study on the values in education to prevent gender violence in secondary schools concludes that adolescents tend to be attracted to individuals who have favorable attitudes towards the model of hegemonic masculinity that reproduce the values of domination, especially in the case of boys, and submission, especially in the case of girls (Elboj, et al 2009, Rios-González, et al, 2018. These studies, together with the research by Aiello, et al (2018), show that violent boys tend to be considered more attractive than the boys who have a more friendly and attentive personality, which is a fact that constitutes a risk factor.…”

The Affirmative “Yes”. Sexual Offense Based on Consent

“…Several studies target teens and boys in pursuing gender equality (Foley et al, 2015) and manifest the importance of programs and preventive protocols for their training in pursuing consensual sexual relations. The study of alternative and egalitarian masculinities are influencing sexual affective relationships to achieve a deep and crucial transformation of society and social roles (Rios-Gonzalez et al, 2018). Scholars such as Connell (2012) aim to configure a powerless masculinity.…”