Peer violence of young people within friendships is an overlooked issue even though in 25% of cases the abuser is a close friend. Friendships of young people are vulnerable to violence. Young people do not necessarily recognize the violence in their close relations or may feel they must accept abusive in friendships. This research produces novel knowledge about how friendship violence among youth becomes silenced and normalised, and how young people navigate with the norms of friendship and violence. The project looks at perceptions of friendship and violence in official documents, in everyday school life, and in the stories of young people. The research provides much needed tools for young people as well as those working with young people to identify and dismantle the norms around friendships that hide violence.

2024

2028