Abstract:

Article 217-A of Brazilian Law n. 12,015/2009 defines carnal knowledge or any other libidinous act with an individual under 14 years of age as “rape of a vulnerable individual” (statutory rape). Given the young average age at sexual initiation in current society, the study aimed to understand the adolescents’ views of sexual initiation, sexual assault, and the law that defines sex at this age as “rape of a vulnerable individual”. The authors used a qualitative approach with 13 focus groups totaling 132 secondary students from public and private schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data analysis used the webQDA software with a hermeneutic-dialectic approach that yielded three categories: feeling ready to initiate sexual activity, (in)vulnerability to sexual assault, and protective mechanisms. Girls associated sexual initiation with a romantic vision and feeling safe with and trusting the partner. Boys associated it with opportunity, regardless of other factors. Most of the students felt that when consent to the sexual act is mutual, regardless of age, there is no violence involved. At the same time, they wondered about the possibility of younger girls’ discernment to consent to having sex. Most of these adolescents disagreed with the protective measures established by the law, arguing that it is the family’s duty to provide this care. The contradictions in the adolescents’ views concerning vulnerability to sexual assault and rape of vulnerable individuals as defined by the law lead us to conclude that it is necessary to expand and improve sex education in general for Brazilian adolescents, besides creating spaces for discussion that can help improve these legal provisions.

Keywords:
Sexual Behavior; Rape; Sexual Violence; Adolescence; Focus Groups

Introduction

Adolescence is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the life phase from 10 to 19 years of age, marked by profound biological, cognitive, emotional, and social changes. The phase is marked by greater autonomy and independence in relation to the family, when individuals experiment new behaviors and the first amorous relations frequently occur, with sexual initiation including intercourse ¹1. World Health Organization. Recommendations on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018..

Sexual practice transcends the biological sphere, involving psychological and social aspects and ethical and legal issues. In Brazil, adolescents have been acknowledged as bearers of rights, including sexual rights, since enactment of the Statute of Children and Adolescents (ECA in the Portuguese acronym) in 1989 ²2. Ministério da Saúde. Diretrizes nacionais para a atenção integral à saúde de adolescentes e jovens na promoção, proteção e recuperação da saúde. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2010.. However, since 2009, the Brazilian criminal code defines carnal knowledge or any other libidinous act with an individual under 14 years of age as “rape of a vulnerable individual” ³3. Brasil. Lei nº 12.015, de 7 de agosto de 2009. Altera o Título VI da Parte Especial do Decreto-Lei nº 2.848, de 7 de dezembro de 1940 - Código Penal, e o art. 1º da Lei nº 8.072, de 25 de julho de 1990, que dispõe sobre os crimes hediondos, nos termos do inciso XLIII do art. 5º da Constituição Federal e revoga a Lei nº 2.252, de 1º de julho de 1954, que trata de corrupção de menores. Diário Oficial da União 2009; 10 ago.. That is, the legal provision assumes that an individual under 14 years of age lacks the maturity or full autonomy to consent to sexual relations.

Other countries besides Brazil have legislation concerning sexual initiation. For example, in the United Kingdom, sexual relations are only legally allowed starting at 16 years. In the British public health services, in cases when sexual initiation occurs before 16 years of age, an evaluation is performed to determine whether the adolescent is mature enough to safely exercise his or her autonomy. A set of guidelines are used for this purpose, called the Gillick Competency and Fraser Guidelines⁴4. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Gillick competency and Frazer guidelines. https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/media/1541/gillick-competency-factsheet.pdf (acessado em 21/Mai/2016).
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/media/1541... , orienting professionals on the evaluation of the adolescent’s competency to make his or her own decisions with awareness of the consequences. When sexual intercourse involves an individual 13 years or younger, protective measures are mandatory ⁵5. Havenga Y, Tamane MA. Consent by children: considerations when assessing maturity and mental capacity. S Afr Fam Pract 2016; 58 Suppl 1:S43-6.^,66. Wheeler R. Gillick or Fraser? A plea for consistency over competence in children: Gillick and Fraser are not interchangeable. BMJ 2006; 332:807..

The scientific literature reports different definitions for early sexual initiation, not always similar to Brazil’s legislation. There is no consensus on the age at which initiation of sexual activity is recommended. Some authors suggest that any sexual initiation before 15 years of age should be considered early ⁷7. Heilborn ML, Aquino EML, Bozon M, Knauth DR, organizadores. O aprendizado da sexualidade: reprodução e trajetórias sociais de jovens brasileiros. Rio de Janeiro: Garamond/Editora Fiocruz; 2006.^,88. Silva ASN, Silva BLCN, Silva JAF, Silva MCF, Guerreiro JF, Sousa ASCA. Início da vida sexual em adolescentes escolares: um estudo transversal sobre comportamento sexual de risco em Abaetetuba, Estado do Pará, Brasil. Rev Pan-Amazônica Saúde 2015; 6:27-34., while others propose ages ranging from 13 to 18 years ⁹9. Moraes L, Franca C, Silva B, Valença P, Menezes V, Colares V. Iniciação sexual precoce e fatores associados: uma revisão da literatura. Psicol Saúde Doenças 2019; 20:59-73.. In the United States, Min et al. ¹⁰10. Min MO, Minnes S, Lang A, Yoon S, Singer LT. Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on early sexual behavior: gender difference in externalizing behavior as a mediator. Drug Alcohol Depend 2015; 153:59-65. define early initiation as under 15 years, while Kastbom et al. ¹¹11. Kastbom AA, Sydsjö G, Priebe G, Göran-Svedin C. Sexual debut before the age of 14 leads to poorer psychosocial health and risky behaviour in later life. Acta Paediatr 2015; 104:91-100. set the age at 14 years.

While acknowledging the lack of standardization of definitions on early sexual initiation and the fact that they depend on the sociocultural context, various authors state that the younger the age at sexual initiation, the higher the probability of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS ¹²12. Teixeira SAM, Taquette SR. Violência e atividade sexual desprotegida em adolescentes menores de 15 anos. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2010; 56:440-6.^,1313. Taquette SR, Rodrigues AO, Bortolotti LR. Infecção pelo HIV em adolescentes do sexo masculino: um estudo qualitativo. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2015; 20:2193-200.^,1414. Taquette SR, Rodrigues AO, Bortolotti LR. HIV infection in female adolescents: a qualitative study. Rev Panam Salud Pública 2015; 37:324-9., unplanned adolescent pregnancy ¹⁵15. Cerqueira-Santos E, Paludo SS, Del Schirò, Koller SH. Gravidez na adolescência: análise contextual de risco e proteção. Psicol Estud 2010; 15:72-85.^,1616. Amorim MMR, Lima LA, Lopes CV, Araújo DKL, Silva JGG, César LC, et al. Fatores de risco para a gravidez na adolescência em uma maternidade-escola da Paraíba: estudo caso-controle. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2009; 31:404-10., maternal mortality ¹⁷17. Spinola M, Cristiany R, Béria JU, Schermann LB. Fatores associados à iniciação sexual em mães de 14 a 16 anos em Porto Alegre/RS, Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2017; 22:3755-62.^,1818. Leite RMB, Araújo TVB, Albuquerque RM, Andrade ARS, Duarte Neto PJ. Fatores de risco para mortalidade materna em área urbana do Nordeste do Brasil. Cad Saúde Pública 2011; 27:1977-85., and cervical cancer ¹⁹19. Instituto Nacional de Câncer. Controle do câncer do colo de útero. Fatores de risco. https://www.inca.gov.br/controle-do-cancer-do-colo-do-utero/fatores-de-risco (acessado em 08/Set/2019).
https://www.inca.gov.br/controle-do-canc... . Other consequences are psychosocial, such as alcohol and drug abuse and school delay and dropout, among others ¹⁷17. Spinola M, Cristiany R, Béria JU, Schermann LB. Fatores associados à iniciação sexual em mães de 14 a 16 anos em Porto Alegre/RS, Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2017; 22:3755-62.^,2020. Gonçalves H, Machado EC, Soares ALG, Camargo-Figuera FA, Seerig LM, Mesenburg MA, et al. Início da vida sexual entre adolescentes (10 a 14 anos) e comportamentos em saúde. Rev Bras Epidemiol 2015; 18:25-41.^,2121. Sanchez ZM, Nappo SA, Cruz JI, Carlini EA, Carlini CM, Martins SS. Sexual behavior among high school students in Brazil: alcohol consumption and legal and illegal drug use associated with unprotected sex. Clinics 2013; 68:489-94..

The age limit of 14 years for defining “rape of a vulnerable individual” (statutory rape) creates dilemmas for health professionals and teachers working with adolescents. These professionals face situations in which a boy or girl under 14 years of age has engaged in consensual sexual intercourse, sometimes even with the family’s knowledge. In this case, which is legally considered statutory rape, the ECA determines in articles 13 and 245 that the case should be reported to the Children’s Board, and that the health professionals or teachers can suffer legal sanctions for failing to report. However, immediate reporting to the respective children’s rights agency may not be the best option for protecting these adolescents ²²22. Ventura M. Direitos reprodutivos no Brasil. 3ª Ed. Brasília: Fundo de População das Nações Unidas; 2009..

The situation reveals a disconnect between the Brazilian legislation, researchers’ definitions of age limits for sexual initiation, and health professionals’ understanding of the issue. This reality illustrates the State’s biopower over persons, employing various techniques to subjugate bodies in order to control the population ²³23. Foucault M. História da sexualidade 1: a vontade de saber. 7ª Ed. Rio de Janeiro: Graal; 1988.. In this scenario, little is known about the adolescents’ own perceptions of the legislation, the age they consider adequate for sexual initiation, or even the consequences for their health. Some authors ²²22. Ventura M. Direitos reprodutivos no Brasil. 3ª Ed. Brasília: Fundo de População das Nações Unidas; 2009.^,2424. Lowenkron L. Menina ou moça? Menoridade e consentimento sexual. Desidades 2016; 10:9-18. report that the gaps in Brazil’s public policies on sexual and reproductive health in adolescence mainly involve lack of participation by the target public in the discussion and drafting of these policies.

Based on the above, we emphasize the importance of involving adolescents in this discussion to learn what they themselves think about sexual initiation and sexual violence. Are Brazilian adolescents familiar with the law that defines statutory rape? When do they believe sexual activity should begin? Are they aware of the consequences of sexual intercourse? The study draws on these questions to understand adolescents’ views concerning sexual violence, age at sexual initiation, and the law that defines sexual relations under 14 years of age as “rape of a vulnerable individual”.

Methods

This article is part of a larger study on violence in adolescence entitled Rape of a Vulnerable Individual and Other Forms of Violence Against Adolescents, using a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. The study was performed with high school sophomores (second year of middle school) of both sexes in public and private schools in the 9th Administrative Region of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The choice of this target public was based on the higher likelihood of their already having engaged in affective/sexual relations and the fact that they were still in the adolescent age bracket. The schools were randomly selected and the Administrative Region was chosen by convenience, since it is where the institution is located in which the research team works, and since there was already integration with the schools because of previous collaboration.

The study’s qualitative component aimed at a more in-depth understanding of the phenomena’s meanings. The technique we adopted was focus group discussion, allowing data collection through interaction among the individuals as a valuable resource for understanding the process of building human groups’ perceptions, attitudes, and social representations and the relational context in which they are produced. All necessary care was taken to reduce the focus group’s limitations and weaknesses in order to ensure balanced participation by all the group’s members, aware that the knowledge construction results from a shared group view of the study theme and not that of participants’ individual experience.

Data were collected in the 2016 school year during classroom hours, following agreement by the respective schools and consent by the students and their parents or guardians. The groups were organized randomly with the students that agreed to participate, with at least 6 and at most 12 members each. The group discussions followed a script with triggering questions on sexuality and sexual violence. On sexuality, the students were asked what they considered the appropriate time for sexual initiation, whether there were differences between boys and girls, and how they viewed sexuality in adolescence and its consequences. On sexual violence, they were asked how they defined it, the reasons for its occurrence and its consequences, and whether they were familiar with the law defining “rape of a vulnerable individual” and what they thought of the law. A self-completed questionnaire was distributed at the end of each meeting to collect sociodemographic data (age, sex, race/color, income, family composition, and parents’ schooling) and information on sexual initiation and experience. Each group was conducted by two professionals (a moderator and an observer). The group meetings lasted an average of 60 minutes and were audio-recorded and transcribed later.

The entire study team, consisting of physicians, nurses, and social workers, participated in the data collection. There was no prior connection between the researchers and the students. The sampling criterion was saturation of the contents with guaranteed balance between public and private school students and between boys and girls. We stopped the meetings after the 13th group because we realized that the information was being repeated and no new data were emerging.

The data were analyzed with the webQDA software (https://www.webqda.net/) and based on the theoretical work of Denzin & Lincoln ²⁵25. Denzin NK, Lincoln YS. The SAGE handbook of qualitative research. 5th Ed. Thousand Oaks: SAGE; 2018. and Minayo ²⁶26. Minayo MCS. O desafio do conhecimento. 13ª Ed. São Paulo: Hucitec Editora; 2013., with the following steps: reading and comprehensive rereading of the textual data; search for similarities, agreements, and disagreements; classification of the reports based on emerging themes and cut-and-paste of the text; cross-sectional reading of the text to identify the meanings assigned by the subjects to the triggering questions; and comparative dialogue with the literature and elaboration of an interpretative synthesis. We did not use prior categories. The categorization was based on understanding the participants’ narratives.

Ethical aspects

The study complies with the ethical standards in Resolution n. 466/2012 of the Brazilian National Health Council ²⁷27. Conselho Nacional de Saúde. Resolução nº 466, de 12 de dezembro de 2012. Aprova diretrizes e normas regulamentadoras de pesquisas envolvendo seres humanos. Diário Oficial da União 2012; 12 dez.. It was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) on September 18, 2015 (CAAE n. 48107514.2.0000.5282), and authorized by the Rio de Janeiro State Department of Education.

Results and discussion

We conducted 13 focus groups, seven in public schools and six in private schools, totaling 132 students, 50% in each segment. Age ranged from 15 to 21 years, with most of the students (68%) 15 to 17 years of age. Girls were a slight majority, with 55% of the total. There were five all-male groups, five all-female, and three mixed. There were no differences in the quality of the debate between the different gender compositions of the focus groups, and the data were analyzed jointly.

Tables 1 and 2 show the study population’s sociodemographic and family characteristics. Table 1 shows that boys were slightly older, the majority black or brown, with slightly lower family income, and with less schooling than girls. Sexual initiation at 14 years or younger was also more common in boys.

Table 2 shows that private schools had predominantly younger students (15-17 years) and more white students than public schools. Two-parent families were present in 50% of students in public schools and 67% of private school students. Private school students had parents with more average schooling and higher income than students in public schools. In relation to sexuality, the majority of the participants of both sexes in both the public and private school systems were already sexually active, and 33% of those in public schools reported sexual initiation at 14 years or younger.

Three categories emerged from analysis of the textual data from the focus groups meetings: (i) Feeling ready for sexual initiation; (ii) (In)vulnerability versus sexual violence; and (iii) Mechanisms of protection. The comments by the girls and boys agreed and disagreed on some points that will be discussed throughout the article. No relevant differences were observed in the comments by students from public and private schools in relation to the three empirical categories.

Feeling ready for sexual initiation

This category includes the adolescents’ perceptions of what they consider the appropriate time for sexual initiation, including age limits and differences between males and females.

According to nearly all of the participants, age is not the best criterion for sexual initiation, although some mentioned that individuals under 12 years of age are not mature enough to consent to sex. More important for them is to feel safe for the sex act and the pleasure resulting from it.

“If you feel ready, you do it. Each person feels ready at a different age” (female group, public school).

“The person is doing it to please the other, because she feels comfortable doing it. And doing it with that person” (female group, private school).

“I think that when the person really feels comfortable to begin to have [sexual] relations, there’s not really a well-defined age” (male group, private school).

“Like, at 12 years, the person isn’t very conscientious or mature enough to understand. They just go along with others” (female group, public school).

“Twelve years isn’t an age for having sex. I don’t think anybody is conscientious enough at 12” (male group, private school).

The understanding of being ready for sexual initiation is reached when they feel safe and secure, which varies between boys and girls, from one person to another, and according to the social group. Various participants acknowledged the influence of society at large, the surrounding community, and culture. Some adolescents expressed convictions based on religious beliefs that set age criteria for sexual initiation or rites of passage such as marriage.

“I think... only with my husband. Only one person” (female group, public school).

“If you’re 20 years old and a virgin, people that are a little younger, when they hear that, they say: I have to have sexual relations so I won’t get teased. There’s all that pressure to lose your virginity before you’re 18” (male group, private school).

“Nowadays, everything points in that direction, bad company, the boyfriend that forces you, gets rough, and says he loves you but fools you” (female group, public school).

“I think in the poor neighborhoods, maybe, it’s because of the lack of other things to do. Even some influences, like music, the funk music thing” (male group, private school).

Another frequent remark on age at sexual initiation was the inequality between boys and girls and the different meanings they assign to it. The girls’ narratives portrayed a predominantly romantic vision of sexual initiation and trust, time in the relationship, and the feelings involved. For boys, what matters is the opportunity, as illustrated in the following quotes:

“I think boys are in more of a rush. A girl is more able to hold back, because first she’s going to love, and then she gives herself to the guy. She doesn’t go for it just for the pleasure” (female group, public school).

“A girl is more influenced by having to protect herself. She goes [into intercourse] when it’s the right person, at the right time. She waits. A boy has to do it right away” (male group, private school).

“I think the family usually encourages boys more than girls [to have sex]” (mixed group, private school).

“If a woman is available, it’s going to happen, period” (male group, public school).

For the adolescents in our study, the feeling of readiness and security for sexual initiation was unrelated to an age limit or any specific social framework. This may reflect changes from past generations in which sexual initiation was conditioned on marriage. Some authors report that this change shows more freedom of choice and exercise of young people’s autonomy and initiative ²⁸28. Arantes EMM. Proteção integral à criança e ao adolescente: proteção versus autonomia? Psicol Clin 2009; 21:431-50.^,2929. Heilborn ML. Por uma agenda positiva dos direitos sexuais da adolescência. Psicol Clin 2012; 24:57-68..

Ferrari et al. ³⁰30. Ferrari W, Peres S, Nascimento M. Experiment and learning in the affective and sexual life of young women from a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with experience of clandestine abortion. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2018; 23:2937-50. also found that girls’ sexual initiation was associated with commitment and feelings, in a study of young women that had experienced clandestine abortions, revealing the influence of gender roles. Meanwhile, this concept of feeling secure for sexual initiation in the sphere of an affective bond does not include other forms of security, in the sense of self-care, such as prevention of diseases and/or pregnancy and equal conditions in the relationship. This understanding differs from the health systems’ and school systems’ definitions of safe sex ³¹31. Taquette SR, Vilhena MM, Silva MM, Vale MP. Conflitos éticos no atendimento à saúde de adolescentes. Cad Saúde Pública 2005; 21:1717-25..

Adolescents’ full autonomy for safely exercising sexuality is achieved through their development, which depends on qualified information, among other aspects. Such information transcends the information from society and family, which sometimes suggests that talking about sex means encouraging children’s sexual liberation ²⁹29. Heilborn ML. Por uma agenda positiva dos direitos sexuais da adolescência. Psicol Clin 2012; 24:57-68.. The various social actors have difficulty discussing autonomy and sexual rights in adolescence, since Brazil’s history is marked by gender inequality and an authoritarian and condescending stance towards “minors” (under 18 years), although they have become subjects of rights since the ECA was enacted ³²32. Leite V. A sexualidade adolescente a partir de percepções de formuladores de políticas públicas: refletindo o ideário dos adolescentes sujeitos de direitos. Psicol Clin 2012; 24:89-103.. What is considered normal at a given time in society may not be in another ³³33. Canguilhen G. O normal e o patológico. 6ª Ed. Rio de Janeiro: Forense Universitária; 2009..

(In)vulnerability versus sexual violence

This category includes the participants’ views of sexual violence and the acknowledgement (or lack thereof) of their vulnerabilities to this type of violence.

There appears to be a consensus on several points. Everyone agreed that sexual violence happens when one of the parties does not consent, and everyone shared the opinion that if there is consent, there is no violence, regardless of the age of those engaging in intercourse.

“If she agreed, it’s not violence” (girl, mixed group, private school).

“I believe an 11-year-old girl already knows what she’s thinking” (female group, public school).

“A 14-year-old girl, for God’s sake, there are 9-year-olds that know more things than me” (female group, public school).

“If the person is prepared and feels fine, it’s not violence” (male group, private school).

Exploring the issues in greater depth, some participants questioned the capacity of very young adolescents (always females) in discerning and understanding whether they are running some risk in consenting to sex and expressed doubt about whether or not it is violence when the age difference between the two individuals is large. This can also happen when the partner “forces himself” and the girl gives in, due to fear of “losing him”.

In the specific debate on whether sexual initiation before 14 years of age constitutes violence, the participants expressed different opinions. Some felt that adolescents under 14 years feel capable of deciding (but as they gain more experience, they realize that they may have been victims in some situations).

“I think an 18-year-old is more aware [commenting on a couple in which the boy is 18 and the girl is 13] The 13-year-old doesn’t really know what she’s doing. But she does on some things, she already has a notion. I’m not sure if I’d call it violence” (male group, private school).

“Like, these girls are just kids, really, when they’re under 14. A few years later, they might feel they had been raped. Like, the person sort of forced me to do it, because he knew I’d probably agree, since I didn’t have total control over my life” (female group, private school).

“At 13, a person doesn’t necessarily know what’s good, what’s right, and what’s wrong” (girl, mixed group, private school).

“She thinks she really wants it, but she’s being influenced and coerced. It’s difficult to judge whether you really want it, when you’re being pressured and you’re 13 years old” (girls, mixed group, private school).

There was also disagreement on the definition of perpetration of sexual violence, which differed by gender. When questioned about rape of males, the boys found the question odd, since they did not see themselves as vulnerable to sexual violence by women. Some participants said it would even be a “dream come true” for a boy under 14 “to be forced” into sexual relations with an older woman.

According to the boys, men are only victims of sexual violence when it is perpetrated by another man. The girls did not comment on this, as if it were an issue that had nothing to do with them. Importantly, the students perceived that men were always the perpetrators of sexual violence and free for sexual initiation at any time. Meanwhile, women were viewed as sexual victims, but simultaneously held responsible for their own condition as victims, on grounds that they know what they are doing.

“She wants to show off her body. And the guy also wants it. So, she’s leading him on. She’s giving him reason to do it, too” (male group, public school).

“I’ve already been sexually assaulted. I was at a show, and a guy came and grabbed me, kissing me” (male group, private school).

“You don’t want to do the thing, and he goes and forces you to do it, or hits you to get it. And you say no, and the person keeps doing it. That’s violence already” (female group, private school).

Participants’ views of sexual activity before 14 years of age suggest that the adolescents assign relatively less importance to consent when defining sexual violence. Over the course of the debate, these young people displayed little concern about the risks of sexual activity. For example, they said nothing about contraception or prevention of STIs.

Contrary to some studies ¹1. World Health Organization. Recommendations on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018.^,3434. Silva MAI, Mello FCM, Mello DF, Ferriani MGC, Sampaio JMC, Oliveira WA. Vulnerabilidade na saúde do adolescente: questões contemporâneas. Ciênc Saúde Colet 2014; 19:619-27., some of our interviewees did not perceive vulnerability in the initial phase of adolescence. However, Gonçalves et al. ²⁰20. Gonçalves H, Machado EC, Soares ALG, Camargo-Figuera FA, Seerig LM, Mesenburg MA, et al. Início da vida sexual entre adolescentes (10 a 14 anos) e comportamentos em saúde. Rev Bras Epidemiol 2015; 18:25-41. also found lack of concern over risks of sexual activity.

The adolescents’ remarks largely expressed conflicts, doubts, and insecurities. Those that defended the younger adolescents’ capacity for discernment may have identified their immaturity, but they still held the younger individuals responsible for the act. This observation appeared when they said that younger teens “consent” because “they know what they’re doing”. They blamed the victim for the violence, an attitude has also been observed in adults and even among health professionals ³⁵35. Adesse L, Castro P, Mota A, organizadoras. Orientações para a saúde integral à saúde de adolescentes de ambos os sexos, vítima de violência sexual na atenção básica. Rio de Janeiro: Ipas Brasil; 2010..

Moreira & Santos ³⁶36. Moreira MRC, Santos JFFQ. Entre a modernidade e a tradição: a iniciação sexual de adolescentes piauienses universitárias. Esc Anna Nery Rev Enferm 2011; 15:558-66. and Biroli ³⁷37. Biroli F. Democracia e tolerância à subordinação: livre-escolha e consentimento na teoria política feminista. Revista de Sociologia e Política 2013; 21:127-42. contend that consent to sexual intercourse through seduction/coercion compromises the definition of sexual violence. These cases do not take the couple’s power inequality into account, especially between partners with gender and power asymmetry. In addition, adolescents’ knowledge on sexual issues is not always sufficient.

The boys in our study expressed a view of men as immune to sexual violence by women. This perception differs from the scientific evidence on male adolescents’ vulnerability to statutory rape. According to data on the profile of victims in vulnerable groups, in 2016, of the 3,108 children and adolescents (0 to 17 years) who were rape victims, 493 were males (15.86%) ³⁸38. Instituto de Segurança Pública. O perfil das vítimas de grupos vulneráveis, 2018. http://www.ispvisualizacao.rj.gov.br/grupos.html (acessado em 02/Mar/2018).
http://www.ispvisualizacao.rj.gov.br/gru... .

Lowenkron ²⁴24. Lowenkron L. Menina ou moça? Menoridade e consentimento sexual. Desidades 2016; 10:9-18. discusses the issue of adolescents’ vulnerability based on age. The author problematizes the criterion of “under-age” sexual activity and emphasizes that age as a category for the exercise of sexuality is interrelated with other categories like gender and social class. One cannot ignore gender inequalities in the notion of sexual consent. Reflecting on age of sexual consent by adolescents and the law on the “rape of a vulnerable individual” that is intended to protect them, the author emphasizes that age should not be the sole or absolute criterion for social and legal regulation of sexual autonomy by these individuals, since it is associated with diverse moralities. She suggests that the definition of vulnerability based on age may actually serve to reduce the adolescent’s autonomy via a biological marker. It is thus necessary to reconcile protection of an individual in development with his or her sexual rights, since the changes in legal provisions over time have shown that age cutoffs are insufficient and precarious.

Protective mechanisms

This item addresses the students’ perception of the law that defines rape of a vulnerable individual and the work done by the Children’s Board.

Most of the adolescents were unfamiliar with the law, and many were surprised at the libidinous acts included in the definition of sexual violence. They did not view the age criterion as valid for defining the occurrence of sexual violence. That is, they questioned the State’s power to regulate their sexuality. For them, early sex is commonplace and even encouraged in many communities. Individuals that do not begin sexual activity early are frowned on and/or excluded from the social group. Meanwhile, when the adolescent (always a female) consents to sex, the act is not considered rape. Some remarks illustrate this:

“You see, when a 13-year-old girl gets pregnant, she’s taking on a huge responsibility and she knows what she’s done wrong. I don’t think it’s a crime” (male group, public school).

“In my opinion, the law is wrong. As soon as she knows right from wrong, she’s doing what she wants, not because she’s forced” (male group, public school).

“For the law to set an age on this, like, it’s a mistake. Why? One thing is to kiss on the mouth by mutual consent. Another thing is with a 14-year-old girl you’ve never seen before, and you grab her and kiss her on the mouth. That’s wrong” (male group, private school).

“If a girl wants to [have sex] with a guy, I don’t know, 20 years old, if she feels comfortable with him, she has that right, you know?” (female group, private school).

When asked about the roles and responsibilities of the Children’s Board, the girls proved to be more knowledgeable. The girls that were most familiar with the Board were those who had been called in for some reason. Some of the adolescents viewed the Children’s Board as a sort of police force and did not have a positive assessment of its work. As for reporting of suspected or confirmed cases of sexual violence, whenever the “victim” was under 14 years of age, some only agreed with such reporting if the partner was an adult. If the partner was also an adolescent, there was no need to report the case in their view. A study by Brito et al. ³⁹39. Brito CO, Nascimento CRR, Rosa EM. Conselho tutelar: rede de apoio socioafetiva para famílias em situação de risco? Pensando Fam 2018; (1):179-92. found the same pattern.

“The day I went there [to the Children’s Board], they called me in to talk. Later they just called my mother in. And, like, I thought it was cool. Because the psychologist listened to my mother’s side, and the kid’s side, and understood all of that” (female group, private school).

“It’s to try to protect the kid somehow. Some kids don’t have this kind of protection, and they can get it through the Children’s Board, to be in a better place” (girl, mixed group, public school).

“I think the Children’s Board protects kids under 14 years, because they still don’t know what they’re doing. That’s why they consent [to sex]” (female group, public school).

“I think this business of the police [referring to the Children’s Board] is bad, very dangerous. Because when a kid is ‘messing around’, they can call the Children’s Board. So, it’s just like police” (male group, public school).

For some of the students, legal and State intervention in matters involving adolescents’ sexual activity is inappropriate. For them, these issues do not concern the State, which should not get involved. It is the family that has the right and duty to solve these matters. The State should only intervene when the family is unable to do so.

“How ridiculous! [mandatory reporting to the Children’s Board in cases of presumed sexual violence]” (male group, private school).

“Like, I think for the State to poke into our lives all the time is bullshit. Because our life doesn’t belong to the State. It’s personal” (male group, private school).

“If the girl calls on the State, that’s fine, but if the State goes after the girl, I’m against it. I think the Children’s Board has to act when the family can’t act for you, when the family has some problem” (male group, private school).

“If there’s penetration and the girl doesn’t want it, like, she can go to the precinct and report it. But if she wants it, that’s another story. If her parents didn’t say anything, you know? Because if she says she was raped and all, her mother has to take the steps” (male group, public school).

The remarks showed that even when these youngsters were unfamiliar with the law, their position can be interpreted as “presumption of relative vulnerability” rather than “absolute vulnerability”, since they did not interpret the situation only according to age.

A study by Oliveira et al. ⁴⁰40. Oliveira GG, Reis LPC, Loreto MDS, Barreto MLM. Estupro de vulneráveis: uma reflexão sobre a efetividade da norma penal à luz da presunção de vulnerabilidade. Jus Navigandi 2014; 19(4115). https://jus.com.br/artigos/29758.
https://jus.com.br/artigos/29758... in the city of Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on the perceptions of judges and lawyers concerning the effectiveness of Law n. 12,015/2009 revealed several points of disagreement. Some contended that the rights of children and adolescents should always be absolute, that regardless of consent, carnal knowledge or any libidinous act with a minor is always a crime. Others questioned absolute presumption, stating that children’s and adolescents’ sexual maturation is influenced by culture and society, and that presumption should be analyzed in relation to legal parameters, the social reality, and common sense. The authors reached the conclusion that the legislation is insufficient and does not fully achieve its objective.

Final remarks

Our study reveals a disconnect between the law and the individuals it aims to protect. In a sense this was foreseeable, since the biopower established by the State and based on its own interests aims to regulate, repress, and control rather than to serve the population’s needs and wishes. When reflecting on the conditions in which sexual initiation has occurred in Brazilians under 14 years of age, we can assume that the change in the criminal code in the definition of rape of a vulnerable individual aimed to expand the protection of children and adolescents. However, the actual protection of this age group since the law was enacted is questionable, due to the difficulty in enforcing it, since the legislation fails to consider the individuals’ own interests or life contexts.

Our results point to the adolescents’ unfamiliarity with this legislation. When the law is explained to them, they question the State’s power to interfere in decisions that are inherent to individual and family autonomy. These findings emphasize the need for educational and policy measures to expand and improve comprehensive sex education in this age group, to prepare them to exercise their sexuality freely, autonomously, and safely. Better communication and cooperation are needed between health services, schools, and the legal system for the identification and effective protection of victims of sexual violence, besides spaces for discussion that can lead to improvement of the legislation.

Finally, the study had some limitations, since it focused exclusively on a sample of adolescent secondary school students in a large city. In order to expand on the results, we recommend complementing it with the perceptions and experience of professionals that work with adolescents.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the study participants’ collaboration: Juliane Escascela Garcia, Luca Zingali Meira, and Thenessi Freitas da Matta.

References

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