Homophobic violence in the peruvian school and its peculiarities with respect to other types of school violence: a quantitative exploration

Abstract

This article analyzes the characteristics of the «homophobic violence» at schools (the one applied to students who declare they are assaulted for being recognized as «gay» or «lesbian») and, in the same way, it identifies its particularities and differences from other types of school violence (like those recognized to be caused by ethnic origin, physical disability or socioeconomic status). Based on the census-based National Student Assessment 2013 (questionnaire on school interactions), applied to final high school grade (5th) students, two sub populations were identified: those affected by both homophobic violence and violence in general. Following a descriptive analysis, binomial logistic regression models were constructed for both sub populations. A direct correlation was found between being affected by homophobic school violence and the fact of being a man and attending an urban school. Likewise, it was showed that, in comparison with those affected by other kinds of violence, the homophobic violence victims are in a more vulnerable situation, both by the higher prevalence of harassment as well as their perceptions of the school climate, subjective well-being, and, finally, as reporting poor performance, substance use, and exposure to violence in other settings. Being a first quantitative exploration for Peruvian schools, the possibility of suggesting new questions about homophobic violence, as well as the pieces of school life, stand out.This article analyzes the characteristics of the «homophobic violence» at schools (the one applied to students who declare they are assaulted for being recognized as «gay» or «lesbian») and, in the same way, it identifies its particularities and differences from other types of school violence (like those recognized to be caused by ethnic origin, physical disability or socioeconomic status). Based on the census-based National Student Assessment 2013 (questionnaire on school interactions), applied to final high school grade (5th) students, two sub populations were identified: those affected by both homophobic violence and violence in general. Following a descriptive analysis, binomial logistic regression models were constructed for both sub populations. A direct correlation was found between being affected by homophobic school violence and the fact of being a man and attending an urban school. Likewise, it was showed that, in comparison with those affected by other kinds of violence, the homophobic violence victims are in a more vulnerable situation, both by the higher prevalence of harassment as well as their perceptions of the school climate, subjective well-being, and, finally, as reporting poor performance, substance use, and exposure to violence in other settings. Being a first quantitative exploration for Peruvian schools, the possibility of suggesting new questions about homophobic violence, as well as the pieces of school life, stand out.