School-Based Sexual Violence Prevention: An Analysis of the 2015 Ontario Curriculum in Light of Themes Present in the Literature and the Social Norm Approach

Abstract

Sexual violence is experienced by a number of North American women who, after being victimized, can develop a series of physical, psychological and financial consequences. As such, it is necessary to develop policies and programs that can better prevent this type of violence. This study aims to determine if the contents of the 2015 Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum at the 9th grade level includes central themes and components that are detailed in the literature to be needed to deter sexual violence perpetration. Through the development and application of a theoretical framework of knowledge, this research project conducted a deductive qualitative content analysis on the 2015 Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum. Information used to evaluate the Curriculum includes central themes identified in the literature as being pertinent to the prevention of sexual violence and the use of the social norms theory. Overall, it was determined that while the 2015 Ontario Curriculum addresses most literature themes associated with sexual violence perpetration and school-based programming, it contains certain limitations that will likely make it a less effective program.