Gender Expression, Violence, and Bullying Victimization

Findings from probability samples of high school students in four US school districts

March 2018

This study is the first to examine gender expression and bullying in racially and ethnically diverse populations of urban high school students in San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Broward County, Florida. The study was published in the Journal of School Health in March 2018.

AUTHORS

Allegra R. Gordon
Research Scientist, Harvard Medical School
Kerith J. Conron
Research Director
Jerel P. Calzo
Associate Professor, San Diego State University
Matthew T. White
Instructor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Sari L. Reisner
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
S. Bryn Austin
Professor, Harvard Chan School of Public Health

CONTACT US ABOUT THIS STUDY

Highlights

Gender expression was measured by asking students how they thought people at school would describe their appearance, style, or mannerisms.

The most gender-nonconforming (GNC) students reported higher levels of bullying and more school absences than their non-GNC peers.

Thirty-one states do not have laws that specifically protect students from bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Data Points

24%

of highly GNC boys reported having been in a fight in the past year

14%

of highly GNC girls reported having been in a fight in the past year

9x

greater likelihood of highly GNC girls being victimized with a weapon compared to moderately GNC girls

Read the open-access journal article.

Related Publications

Brief

Characteristics and Mental Health of Gender Nonconforming Adolescents in California

December 2017