Violence in school: Protagonism, gender, and inequality

Abstract

This article analyses gender differences in school violence from an interactionist perspective. It presents a qualitative analysis of violent incidents occurred in two schools in the outskirts of São Paulo (Brazil), collected through group interviews with male and female young scholars. Despite the fact that the investigation has located protagonisms of the female students violence, women in general are less protagonists and more victims than men and those differences are accentuated in the violence directed against the school institution. Explanatory arguments are similar although men emphasize rivalry against school institution and women interpersonal rivalry.