November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women promoted by the United Nations.
Violence is a structural problem that affects society as a whole and requires a thorough study of its characteristics. Specifically, we want to give visibility to the gender violence, understood as the violence perpetrated against a woman simply because she is a woman, which seriously affects our society. Violence perpetrated against women includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence, as well as domestic harassment or harassment.
"Any act of violence based on gender that results in or may result in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering for women, as well as threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life," according to the report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Parliament, and Equality.
It is necessary to distinguish the characteristics that define each violent act in order to combat it.
The numbers are staggering. As of November 4, 2019, 51 women have been murdered due to gender violence, leaving 43 children under the age of 18 orphaned. The majority of the victims, 40,4%, were between 41 and 50 years old, a group that also predominates among the attackers (48,9%).
Violence Against Women: Forms and Expressions
Gender violence is usually associated with physical aggression, however, Violence against women takes different forms and expressions which are also gender violence:
Control psychological violence
Form of violence focused on the Social isolation of the couple and in the control of all aspects of their lives. It seeks to reinforce dominance over the partner and make the woman more dependent.
«Control violence is widespread, especially among young people. 1 in 4 women aged 16 or older has suffered violence at the hands of their male partner or ex-partner throughout their lives." Nearly 5 million women in Spain. Source: Macro-survey on violence against women. 2015. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Parliament, and Equality.
Emotional psychological violence
It is any intentional and prolonged conduct that attempt against physical and emotional integrity of women and their personal dignity. It causes women to feel devalued or suffer. This form of violence seeks to impose a series of rules on women, restricting their freedom and making them responsible for men's violent behavior.
economic violence
Intentional and unjustified deprivation of resources that women need to ensure their well-being and that of their children.
Physical violence
Includes any unintentional act that involves the deliberate use of force that causes injury, physical harm, or illness to the woman. For example, pushing, hair pulling, choking attempts, etc.
Sexual violence
Any conduct that involves a sexual act without consent of women. For example, forcing her to have sex, ignoring her wishes, obscene comments, resorting to force, etc.
It is important to know that many women who suffer from controlling or emotional violence They do not perceive themselves as victims from gender violence despite the serious deterioration of their health and well-being and the problems of social isolation they suffer.
From Clinical Psychology Unit We at the Women's Unit want to express our rejection of any type of violence against women. Therefore, through this informative article, we want to raise awareness about the multitude of types of violence currently perpetrated against women in our country.
It is important to raise awareness and educate children about equality.It is in our homes, schools, and colleges where we have the obligation to instill the values of equality every day.
Article written by the clinical psychologist of the Women's Unit Elena Iracheta.
