About this session

Saturday, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

The Ins and Outs of Gender-Based Harassment

Most adolescents harass their peers based on gender non-conformity (Brown et al., 2023), and most gender non-conforming adolescents report experiencing gender-based harassment (Kosciw et al., 2020). What motivates this harassment, and what are its outcomes? More importantly, how can we prevent or mitigate these outcomes? This symposium provides a comprehensive understanding of these issues through qualitative and quantitative studies involving nearly 9,000 adolescents and young adults from the US and Canada, along with insights from over 500 teachers.

Study 1 analyzes what motivates adolescents to harass their gender non-conforming peers. In so doing, it flips the traditional narrative from analyzing victims to analyzing perpetrators to identify the root of the problem. Study 2 investigates how gender non-conforming young adults navigate online harassment, documenting the pervasive nature of online harassment and the strategies that they use to cope with it. Study 3 explores Canadian teachers' willingness to intervene in gender-based harassment, finding that greater knowledge and acceptance of transgender issues lead to higher intervention rates, suggesting the need for enhanced teacher education. Study 4 investigates protective factors for adolescents experiencing gender, race, or sexual orientation-based harassment, emphasizing the critical role of home and school support in improving outcomes like academic performance, substance use, and psychological health.

These studies collectively highlight that gender inclusivity education for adolescents, parents, and teachers is key to reducing gender-based harassment. Enhanced understanding and support can make a significant difference in mitigating the negative effects of such harassment and fostering a more inclusive environment for all adolescents.

Paper #1
Title	Why Do Adolescents Harass Gender Non-Conforming Peers?
Presenting author	Dr. Matthew Nielson, University of Exeter, United Kingdom

Paper #2
Title	Navigating Digital Stigma: How Transgender and Gender Diverse Young Adults Respond to Stigma Online
Presenting author	Emily Herry, Ohio State University, United States

Paper #3
Title	Understanding Teachers’ Intention to Intervene with Transphobic Bullying in a National Sample of Canadian Teachers
Presenting author	Y-Lane Noémie Zaine, Université de Sherbrooke, Canada

Paper #4
Title	What are the Factors that Help Adolescents Who are Bullied Thrive?
Presenting author	André Gonzales Real, University of Texas at Austin, United States

View all paper details

Session chair
Dr. Matthew Nielson, University of Exeter, United Kingdom

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