Tackling Gender-Based Violence: What you need to know

Firstly, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) refers to any type of violence that occurs because of someone’s gender. It could be physical violence (where someone hits and hurts another), emotional violence (where someone makes another feel bad about themselves), sexual violence (which involves forcing someone to engage in sexual relations or touching them in a way that makes them uncomfortable), or financial violence (where someone controls their partner’s money, making them dependent on financial support).

If you have heard or experienced scenarios such as a husband hitting his wife for not preparing a certain food, a spouse controlling their partner’s social media and devices, a partner forcing the other to have sex without consent, or a friend or family member taking control of someone’s money and assets, making the owner beg for it—these are all forms of Gender-Based Violence, and they should be dealt with accordingly.

However, it is important to know that GBV affects all genders, and it is never the victim’s fault. Gender-Based Violence is both a crime and a human rights issue. To reduce GBV cases, people must report incidents to local authorities, support hotlines, or organisations that specialise in GBV prevention and counselling.

It is important to note that GBV is a complex issue, and the factors leading to its occurrence vary. Some of these factors include societal attitudes and power dynamics that reinforce inequality between men and women. These factors include:

Patriarchal societies

Some communities take pride in male dominance and fail to give women the respect they deserve. This leads to women being treated inappropriately in relationships. A male-dominated environment could encourage Gender-Based Violence. When a partner disrespects their spouse and refuses to listen to them, it may foster GBV.

Gender stereotypes

Limiting roles and expectations for women and men can lead to GBV, as these roles reinforce power imbalances and encourage violence. For example, believing in stereotypes such as "women are not equal to men" may perpetuate GBV.

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Lack of education and awareness

Living with a limited understanding of GBV and its severe consequences can hinder efforts to prevent and address it. It is important to educate people about the effects of GBV to create awareness and promote prevention.

Economic and social inequality

Women facing economic and social inequality are often more vulnerable to GBV. Social inequality occurs when some people have advantages over others, often due to factors such as class, race, gender, income, wealth, unequal access to education, cultural resources, differential treatment by the judicial system, power dynamics, religion, kinship, prestige, ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation. In this case, the inequality relates specifically to gender.

Cultural and traditional norms

Certain cultural and traditional norms condone or normalise GBV, perpetuating the problem.

Addressing GBV requires a multi-faceted approach

The best way to curb GBV is by addressing its underlying factors and working towards creating a more equitable society.