Abstract

NAPOLI, Pablo Nahuel di  and  POGLIAGHI, Leticia. Meanings of violence from the perspective of Mexican and Argentine students. Sinéctica [online]. 2019, n.53.  Epub Aug 28, 2020. ISSN 2007-7033.  https://doi.org/10.31391/s2007-7033(2019)0053-015.

Based on two qualitative researches developed in Mexico and Argentina, this article seeks to understand the meanings that young people construct about violence in their daily interactions at schools. The inquiry starts with the question about what is for students the limit of what violence is and what is not. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted for female and male high school students from four public schools, two from each country. In their speeches a discrepancy was observed between the general conception of violence and the situations they nominate as such when they happen. We identify three criteria by which they typify: the intention to cause harm, the consideration that the other may feel hurt and the trust that exists between those involved. The latter is key because it makes the study of violence more complex as it adds an analytical dimension that crosses the first two criteria and what makes the difference when considering a situation violent or not in their daily interactions at schools.

Keywords : Young people; school; high school; Mexico; Argentina.