'Yeah, I've grown; I can't go out anymore': differences in perceived risks between girls and boys entering adolescence

This analysis is based on data from the Global Early Adolescent Study, which aims to understand the factors that predispose young people aged 10-14 years to positive or negative health trajectories. Specifically, interview transcripts from 202 adolescents and 191 parents across six diverse urban sit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Culture, health & sexuality health & sexuality, 2018-07, Vol.20 (7), p.787-798
Main Authors: Mmari, Kristin, Moreau, Caroline, Gibbs, Susannah Emily, De Meyer, Sara, Michielsen, Kristien, Kabiru, Caroline W., Bello, Bamidele, Fatusi, Adesegun, Lou, Chaohua, Zuo, Xiayun, Yu, Chunyan, Al-Attar, Ghada S. T., El-Gibaly, Omaima
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescence
Adolescent girls
Adolescents
Boys
Child development
Female roles
Gender
Gender differences
gender norms
Girls
global health
Imbalance
Mobility
Parents & parenting
Peer influence
Peer pressure
perceived risks
Power
Prone
Reproductive health
Risk
Sexual behavior
Sexual development
Social power
Violence
Vulnerability
Young adults
Young women
Youth
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Summary:This analysis is based on data from the Global Early Adolescent Study, which aims to understand the factors that predispose young people aged 10-14 years to positive or negative health trajectories. Specifically, interview transcripts from 202 adolescents and 191 parents across six diverse urban sites (Baltimore, Ghent, Nairobi, Ile Ife, Assuit and Shanghai) were analysed to compare the perceived risks associated with entering adolescence and how these risks differed by gender. Findings reveal that in all sites except Ghent, both young people and their parents perceived that girls face greater risks related to their sexual and reproductive health, and because of their sexual development, were perceived to require more protection. In contrast, when boys grow up, they and their parents recognised that their independence broadened, and parents felt that boys were strong enough to protect themselves. This has negative consequences as well, as boys were perceived to be more prone to risks associated with street violence and peer pressure. These differences in perceptions of vulnerability and related mobility are markers of a gender system that separates young women and men's roles, responsibilities and behaviours in ways that widen gender power imbalance with lifelong social and health consequences for people of both sexes.
ISSN:1369-1058
1464-5351
DOI:10.1080/13691058.2017.1382718