Issue 31: March 2001 - Youth Work Ireland

Abuse, Harassment and ViolenceHidden Life of Irish Teensby Women's Ai dIrish teenagers have high levels of contact withviolence, abuse and harassment according to"Teenage Tolerance", research launched on 14February by Minister of State in the Department ofEducation and Science, Willie O'Dea TD, in DublinCastle on behalf of Women's Aid.A poster campaign entitled "Tell Someone" was alsolaunched today by B*Witched to encourage youngpeople to contact Women's Aid or the Rape CrisisHelplines. The poster will hang in schools and youthclubs.The research was conducted with over 300 youngmen and women between the ages of 14 and 19, infour Dublin schools and one senior college. Theresearch was conducted through questionnaires andfocus groups by Women's Aid and the Child andWomen Abuse Studies Unit, London University.Women's Aid is a voluntary organisation which, forover 25 years, has provided services to women andtheir children who are experiencing violence in thehome. Women's Aid has delivered preventativeeducation work in the education and youth sector forthe last seven years. This study was funded by theEuropean Commission and the Department ofEducation and Science.95% of young women and 84% of young menreported knowing someone who had experiencedabuse, violence and harassment ranging fromfollowed, to being forced to have sex, to being hit bya partner. The persons known were mainly youngwomen.I in 4 young women knew someone who was forcedto have sex, with over 76% of those known beingfriends. The research also indicates that youngpeople are not reporting their experiences toparents, teachers or other adults, but instead arejust telling their friends.According to Denise Charlton, Director of Women'sAid:"The findings of this research are not just alarming,they also indicate how, as a society, we are failingour young people.education,With limited sex and lifeskil/sand few support systems for youngpeople, we are leaving young people to cope withthese issues alone or with each other."The report also highlights confusion amongst youngpeople about the meaning of rape, violence, andconsent. 19% of young women and 34% of youngmen did not think being forced to have sex is rape.The report also indicated that there is a high level ofexposure to pornography, particularly amongstyoung men. Of the 94% of young men, who hadcontact with pornography, 3 out of 4 accessedpornography on the Internet, mainly on homecomputers or friends' computers.The report also indicates that while both young menarid women are sexually active, a double standardstill exists in relation to sexual activity, withreputation clearly affecting young women in anegative way, whilst young men's reputation isenhanced amongst their peers by sexual activity.Both young men and young women fear physicalattack in public places such as the street, nightclubsand bars, however young women also fear sexualassault and being drug raped.Teenage Tolerance - Women's AidDefining Rape1 There is an alarming degree of confusion amongstyoung people. Whilst the vast majority of youngpeople viewed being forced to have sex as rape,19% of young women and 34% of young men didnot, For some young people, force alone was notenough, it must be force plus - plus additionalviolence, plus being held down - It appears thatyoung people are distinguishing between types ofrapeContact with and Attitudes to Pornography1 94% of young men and 68% of young women hadIrish YouthWork Scene J March 2001