“Beyond Words”: Exploring Sexual Objectification in Adolescence Through “Piropos”

Experiences of objectification through “piropos” (sexual comments about physical appearance and sexual body) frequently occur in the interpersonal relationships of the adolescent collective. The objectives of this qualitative study were: to analyse the adolescent group’s perception of piropos; to identify the behaviors of those who issue and receive these piropos; and to know adolescents’ emotions and reactions generated by piropos. Participants were 232 students (121 girls and 111 boys) from Compulsory Secondary Education and High School, aged 15 to 18, from public schools in northwestern Spain, who took part in 20 discussion groups. The results showed that both boys and girls consider piropos as “positive”; very few participants considered piropos as a form of sexual harassment. Boys were the main senders, and girls the receivers. However, some boys acknowledged that they would be willing to apologise or even stop issuing this type of comment if they received a negative response from the recipient. Our results suggest the need to incorporate comprehensive sex education programs into schools to raise awareness among adolescents about the negative consequences of piropos and their identification as a form of sexual harassment and, thus, promote socio-affective relationships based on equality and respect and free of violence.