Gender attitudes and violence among urban adolescent boys in India

Abstract

Young males' perpetration of violence against females is prevalent across the globe, and is associated with inequitable gender attitudes including the condoning of violence against women. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among boys ages 10-16 (N = 1040) from urban neighborhoods of Mumbai, India to examine the relationship among adolescent males' gender attitudes, attitudes condoning violence against women, exposure to family and community violence, and violence perpetration against peers and girls. More equitable gender attitudes were associated with significantly less likelihood of sexual violence perpetration. Promoting equitable gender attitudes may be an important modifiable factor in preventing violence against women and girls, especially among boys who have been exposed to violence.