The way culture of prevention is structured among pre-adolescents and adolescents is explored, drawing attention to gender differences about the perception of health needs and risk behaviours. The focal point is on the risk areas which involves mostly the females, althought these are not their exclusive prerogative: the sphere of sexual health (contraception, prevention of sexually transmitted infections, abortions) and the eld of eating disorders. Through the implementation of focus groups, it has been possible to understand the stance of preteens and teenagers (boys and girls divided by age, living in socially mixed urban areas) in the city of Bari. Strong gender stereotypes have emerged: they affected both sexes and are potentially related to concrete risk, as far as the perception of the body, the stories referring to gender relationships and the way they live sexuality are concerned.