The university’s students and gender violence

The aim of the study has been to learn about the beliefs the student body of the National University of the East (Paraguay) has about equality and gender violence as well as to determine the causes and risk factors so as to propose effective interventions that will help prevent occurrence of the problem and that will bring about change in society through education. The study was carried out in 2015 and it focused on students’ representations and experiences regarding gender violence, a survey was conducted among a sample of 467 students from all academic programmes at the university. The sample, from a total population of 5678 students, was put together through random sampling of conglomerates. The findings suggest that there are deep-rooted cultural norms that lead to a persistent violence and discrimination against women and that it is necessary to create programmes that will promote different cultural norms which will eradicate discrimination and gender violence.