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.
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