The mixed company they keep: Potentially offensive sexual behaviours among adolescents

This study investigated the incidence and tolerance of potentially offensive sexual behaviours in relation to the gender composition of adolescents' friendship networks. High-school students (Grades 8 and 11) self-reported on the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire--High School and on the Social Network Form. Adolescents whose friendship network included a relatively greater proportion of other-sex friends tended to be those who experienced some form of potentially offensive sexual behaviours. However, tolerance (i.e., lack of upset) of these behaviours was not related to the gender composition of the friendship network. Moderate behaviours were perpetrated mostly by boys to both sexes, whereas severe behaviours were perpetrated by other-sex peers. The discussion addresses how sexual harassment in adolescence might be conceptualised.