A violência sexual contra crianças e seus desdobramentos no ambiente escolar

Abstract

This empirical research aimed to identify and analyze the consequences, in the school environment, of sexual violence against children, as well as the obstacles that prevent educators in facing situations of sexual violence against students. Three girls were observed, in social interactions and school performance, who suffered sexual abuse. They were enrolled, respectively, in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years of the Elementary School, at the Literacy phase, in three municipal schools from São Paulo. The procedures for data collection included students’ observation in the school environment, in their activities and relationships with colleagues and educators, sociometric techniques, analysis of the grade reportings, family drawings (elaborated by targeted students’ classmates), interviews with their classmates, interviews with the teachers and curriculum coordinators, as well as the application of questionnaires for the educators from the three schools. The analysis was guided by the Critical Theory of Society considering conscience’s reification, barbarism, emotional coldness, dehumanization and lack of empathy. Through data analysis, it was possible to observe that the interfering of sexual violence with children's learning and achievement is difficult to be observed, since social interactions and school performance do not differ significantly from other students, making it harder to any professional at school to identify these cases, because the signs and consequences of sexual violence are not easily distinguishable. This implies the need for the educator to have a sensitive perception and knowledge to identify and deal with situations appropriately. The survey data also indicates that educators are aware of the impact sexual violence can have on a child or teenager's mind and values. For this reason, they need and call for training to enable them to act safely and effective against sexual assault