Gender-based violence, need to invest in school and affective education

"If the chick doesn't want to do it if my parents fuck her/It's bad for them because six of them will fuck her afterwards". "I whistle at her every time she passes by/I'd like to take her from behind like in Assassin's Creed". "I spit in your face just to season the sex". It's just songs, it's just rhymes hummed with Guè Pequeno, Shiva, Emis Killa or Tony Effe in the headphones or shouted at concerts as if they were claims. It is the trap, the music that not only teenagers but also the very young listen to. And often without any parental filter. This leads to what someone has already called Generation blasphemy, because swearing makes one feel strong, makes one feel righteous. And so it is not only blasphemies that are emptied of their meaning but also swear words and among them young people call each other tr**a or fr**o. As if to normalise a forbidden language, clearing through words even thoughts and actions.

The violence among young people is on the rise and, in particular, against girls. Sexual offences are on the rise and also those committed among minors. As are the feminicides in which the protagonists, victim and murderer, are increasingly young, as in the case of Aurora Tila, killed at the age of 13 by her ex-boyfriend of 15. According to data from the central Crime Police directorate, between 2020 and 2023 there will be a 35% increase in gender-based assaults and violence. The age split of the victims is indicative: 76% of women who have been sexually assaulted and 73% of gang rape victims are under 34 years of age. Moreover, the incidence of sexual violence among young women aged 14-17 has increased from 24% to 27% since 2020.

To this phenomenon Chiara Di Cristofaro, Simona Rossitto and Livia Zancaner have dedicated the book In trappings (published by 24Ore libri), which aims to be a tool of help and support for all adults who work daily in the education and training of children. It is precisely that, in fact, which is the most delicate area and which requires urgent action so that affectivity education first and then sex education can be included in school curricula. On the other handin Italy 30% of young people believe that jealousy is a demonstration of love, a percentage that rises to 45% among 14-15 year olds, while 19% consider geolocation acceptable. 39% say they have experienced violence, with peaks among non-binary people (55%) and girls (43%). Only 1% of boys turn to Anti-Violence Centres and 25% talk to no one. The picture returned by the Young Voices for Free Relationships survey, conducted by Differenza Donna among boys and girls aged between 14 and 21, can only confirm the need not to further delay an investment in schools in this direction.

The four-page special report on 25 November, the International Day Against Violence Against Women, inside the Monday edition of Il Sole 24 Ore and the online dossier, with analyses, interviews, in-depth analysis and testimonies, is dedicated to the gender violence emergency among young people. In addition, Sunday 24 November on Radio 24 will air at 8.15 a.m. the Le parole contano. Against violence against women with interviews with Big Mama and Noemi. "I have been a victim of violence, yet here I am. I don't want to be ashamed to talk about the abuse I suffered, I want others to look at me and say: if she made it, I can make it too'. These are the words of Marianna Mammone, aka Big Mama, who has turned her art into a flag against violence and bullying. "Getting out of violence is possible, a rebirth is possible", emphasises Veronica Scopelliti, aka Noemi, who together with Big Mama and many other artists are part of Una Nessuna Centomila, a foundation dedicated to preventing and combating violence against women, also by overcoming stereotypes, cultural prejudices and sexist models. This brings us back to music, which can perpetuate if not exacerbate stereotypes and sexist language, or it can redeem, liberate and open up new possibilities for rebirth.