Relationship violence: attitudes held by fifth form students

Abstract

This study is based on and adapted from the 1987 Canadian study by Shirley Litch Mercer. The focus for this study is on the attitudes held by young people toward relationship violence. The sample selected from three secondary schools consisted of 34 females and 31 males, a total of 65 students. All respondents were in the fifth form and were between 14 and 17 years of age. The results show that generally the students hold anti-abuse attitudes. Specific issues such as the need for mutual consent prior to sexual intercourse and acceptance of rape myths, for example; - women enjoy being forced to have intercourse, - women deserve to be raped, - violent behaviour by men towards women shows they care showed abuse excusing (supporting) attitudes. A strong gender difference emerged from the results. Males reported, on average, 7% more abuse excusing responses than the women. The males also reported more undecided responses with regard to the issues listed above which indicates the need for educators to develop appropriate programmes to counteract this.