Gender

Gender-Based Violence

‘Gender-Based Violence’ (or GBV) and ‘Violence against women’ are commonly used interchangeably since most violence against women is perpetrated for gender-based reasons, and gender-based violence disproportionately affects women. Gender-based violence can be sexual, physical, verbal, psychological (emotional), or socio-economic and it can take many forms – from verbal violence and hate speech on the Internet, to rape or murder. It can be perpetrated by anyone

What causes GBV?

Gender-based violence, particularly violence against women, is among the most prominent examples of women's and men's unequal power relations. The perpetrator is the primary cause of the violence: it is critical to remember that a victim of gender-based violence is never held accountable for the perpetrator's actions.

There is no single factor that can explain gender-based violence in our societies,
but rather a range of factors contribute to it, and the interplay of these factors
lies at the root of the problem. Four types of factors can be identified: cultural, legal, economic, and political.

Cultural

Patriarchal and sexist views legitimise violence to ensure the dominance and superiority of men.

Other cultural factors include gender stereotypes and prejudice, normative expectations of femininity and masculinity, the socialisation of gender an understanding of the family sphere as private and under male authority, and a general acceptance of violence as part of the public sphere or as an acceptable means to solve conflict and assert oneself.

Legal

Being a victim of gender-based violence is perceived in many societies as shameful and weak, with many women still being considered guilty of attracting violence against themselves through their behavior.

While most forms of gender-based violence are criminalized in most European countries, the practices of law enforcement in many cases favor the perpetrators, which helps to account for low levels of trust in public authorities and for the fact that most of these crimes go unreported.

Economic

The lack of economic resources generally makes women vulnerable to violence. It creates patterns of violence and poverty that become self-replicating, making it incredibly difficult for the victims to escape these situations.

Political

The under-representation of women in power and politics means that they have fewer opportunities to shape the discussion and to affect changes in policy, or to adopt measures to combat gender-based violence and support equality. The topic of gender-based violence is in some cases deemed not to be important, with domestic violence also being given insufficient resources and attention.

Gender Inequality

Gender inequality refers to the unequal and biased treatment of individuals on the basis of their gender. Gender roles that are socially constructed are to blame for this inequality. It happens when an individual of a specific gender is given different or disadvantageous treatment in comparison to a person of the other gender in the same circumstance.

The biggest problem we’re facing is that a lot of people still see gender inequality as a women’s issue. However, by gender, we refer to all genders including male, female, transgender and others.

How inequality affects everyone, including men:

Not everyone experiences inequality the same way. The situation is worse, and often different, for people who face more than one type of discrimination.

Who and How?

Men

Traditional stereotypes are difficult for many men to live up to. They feel pressure to be a ‘real man’, to be physically and emotionally strong, and be the main income earner.
Many workplaces don’t offer men extended parental leave or flexible hours.
Men are more likely to drink too much, take unhealthy risks and engage in violence.
They are less likely to seek professional help or talk about their problems with friends or family.
Men are more likely to commit suicide.