A Gender Perspective on Bullying. Findings from a National Survey

Bullying represents a global issue and a fundamental violation of human rights. UNESCO estimates that one in three students is a victim of bullying. The prevalence of this phenomenon highlights the importance of continu- ing to study its modes of expression and strategies for counteraction. While male bullying has been extensively researched, female bullying has received less attention, possibly because it is less visible and, in some re- spects, more complex than male bullying, involving intricate, cross-sec- tional, and multidimensional interactions. To gain a better understanding of the gender dynamics underlying bullying and to deepen the knowledge of female bullying, a national project was conducted, involving multidisci- plinary research units from six Italian universities and adopting a mixed- method research design. The purpose of this contribution is to present the results of the quantitative study regarding the assessment of the extent and characteristics of bullying across the national territory, with an explo- ration of potential gender differences in the interpretation of the phenom- enon.