to have good relationships) and capacity when sports stars were found to have abused (parents say they find it difficult to discuss women or a woman was murdered by her the topic). partner. TV ads about sexual violence were also a prompt to open these conversations by When the views of parents were also gauged some. However, this was not a general trend as part of the qualitative study, they talked a and many of the parents we spoke to great deal about the influence of the acknowledge they hadn’t really talked about relationships young people saw around them. what it is to have a healthy relationship Both male and female parents identified that beyond cautioning girls and warning them of children model their parents’ behaviour, the dangers of boys… Conversations with including to do with healthy relationships and sons about how they should behave seemed respecting one another. It makes sense, then, even more uncommon. that their default setting is teaching children through demonstrating their own ability to Having said this, many parents welcome have healthy and respectful relationships. encouragement, guidance and tools with which to encourage healthy relationship Some parents used examples of relationship behaviours among their children (including to violence raised in the media to start a do with porn and social media). conversation with their teens, for instance Young people in families where there is Those from families where support for gender violence, gender inequality and inequality and unequal relationships is disrespectful relationships justified on cultural grounds were particularly vocal in supporting the beliefs of their fathers and other community influencers. They appear to conflate belonging and acceptance Young people from families where violence in their community, and by their fathers, with and controlling/abusive behaviours are accepting the masculine culture and ways of already occurring, and more particularly girls, thinking about relationships between men and talked about the unhealthy relationships women. around them, including in particular their parents and older siblings.
to have good relationships) and capacity (parents say they find it difficult to discuss the topic). When the views of parents were also gauged as part of the qualitative study, they talked a great deal about the influence of the relationships young people saw around them. Both male and female parents identified that children model their parents’ behaviour, including to do with healthy relationships and respecting one another. It makes sense, then, that their default setting is teaching children through demonstrating their own ability to have healthy and respectful relationships. Some parents used examples of relationship violence raised in the media to start a conversation with their teens, for instance when sports stars were found to have abused women or a woman was murdered by her partner. TV ads about sexual violence were also a prompt to open these conversations by some. However, this was not a general trend and many of the parents we spoke to acknowledge they hadn’t really talked about what it is to have a healthy relationship beyond cautioning girls and warning them of the dangers of boys… Conversations with sons about how they should behave seemed even more uncommon. Having said this, many parents welcome encouragement, guidance and tools with which to encourage healthy relationship behaviours among their children (including to do with porn and social media). Young people in families where there is violence, gender inequality and disrespectful relationships Young people from families where violence and controlling/abusive behaviours are already occurring, and more particularly girls, talked about the unhealthy relationships around them, including in particular their parents and older siblings. Those from families where support for gender inequality and unequal relationships is justified on cultural grounds were particularly vocal in supporting the beliefs of their fathers and other community influencers. They appear to conflate belonging and acceptance in their community, and by their fathers, with accepting the masculine culture and ways of thinking about relationships between men and women.
The-Line-campaign-Research-summary-AA-28-May-2015_1.docx