Physical Violence Perpetrated by Jealousy in Adolescent Dating: A Gender Approach in Ten Brazilian Capitals

Abstract

Adolescent dating violence has been gaining visibility in the scientific realm over the past three decades, being considered as a public health issue. This quantitative and qualitative study investigates gender influences in physical dating violence among Brazilian adolescents. A survey was conducted with 3,205 adolescents (15-19 years old) from 2nd year of high school of public and private schools in 10 Brazilian cities. Group and individual interviews were also conducted with 519 participants. Although humiliations e aggression between lovers were considered serious by most teenagers, infidelity and jealousy stood out as disruptors of conflicts and fights, reflecting traditional gender norms that legitimize violence. Programs aimed at deconstructing gender stereotypes and questioning the banalization of violence among adolescents are needed.