Student teachers school experiences on gender-based violence

Authors

• Matti Rautiainen Jyväskylän yliopisto
• Marita Husso Tampereen yliopisto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3714-8477
• Sisko Piippo Itä-Suomen yliopisto

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33350/ka.114743

Keywords:

subject teacher education, gender-based violence, school experiences, school culture

Abstract

In this article, we study subject teacher students’ school experiences of gender-based violence. Young people are exposed to a wide range of gender-based violence and harassment. According to a School Health Promotion study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, violence and sexual harassment, especially against girls and sexual minorities, have increased in recent years. The role of school, teachers and teacher education is important in first becoming aware of and then intervening in gender-based violence. Our data was gathered by focus group interviews (N=18) and analysed by qualitative research methods. As a result of the analysis, four upper classes were formed: 1) name-calling, 2) sexual harassment and physical violence, 3) rumour and gossip, and 4) structural violence. The most common forms of gender-based violence were name-calling, sexual harassment and physical violence. Students described a great deal of uncertainty when considering their own role as teachers facing gender-based violence. Thus, in teacher training and everyday life at school, it would be important to consider ways of sharing experiences of gender-based violence, to increase the understanding of the phenomenon, and to study ways to prevent gender-based violence.