Violence against women is 'acceptable', say Glasgow pupils

School children believe it is acceptable to hit women in certain situations according to a small scale study by Edinburgh Napier University.

Examples of permissible violence included where a woman had an affair, or failed to have dinner ready on time.

Nancy Lombard, lecturer in sociology at Napier and author of the study, explained: “The children didn't agree with violence but gave reasons to try to justify it if the woman had done something 'wrong'.”

The study, which recorded the attitudes and aspirations of children, also showed that most girls expected to lose their ambitions once married.

A total of 89 primary seven children at five primaries in Glasgow took part in the research. The 11 and 12-year-olds were questioned in-depth about their views of gender roles and behaviour.

The majority of children believed that if a woman had an affair, then her partner would be justified in punching her. 80 percent thought that a woman could be slapped if she did not serve dinner on time.

Ms Lombard described the results as “worrying”, as it appeared the children had normalised and naturalised perceptions of violence.

“The old saying of 'If he pulls your pigtails it means he likes you', translates into violence in adulthood which girls accept as normal,” said Ms Lombard.

One case in the study illustrates the ambition lost after marriage, suggested in the research. This female, when questioned on career intentions, said “I want to be a dancer or a doctor.” However, when considering her life after marriage, said “When I grow up I'm going to have two babies and work part-time in the shop down the road.”

This attitude appears to be reflected across all the interviewees. Ms Lombard explains: “All the girls said they don't get much of the playground because the boys dominate the space.”

The event at which these findings were delivered was organised by a partnership between Edinburgh Napier University and Scottish Women's Aid.

Suzanne Moran, spokeswoman for Edinburgh Women's Aid, highlighted the importance of the research:

"Studies like these reveal that there is still much to be done to eradicate ingrained beliefs that women are to blame for violence perpetrated against them."