Gender- Based Violence

Learning Outcome
At the end of this presentation, students should be
able to:
• Define gender violence
• Outline the forms of gender violence
• Determine factors that contribute to violence
against women.
• identify those who are likely to practice gender-
based violence.
• Determine women at risk.
• Describe the life cycle of gender violence.
• Explain the effects of violence against women.
• Describe the role of a nurse towards gender based
violence
 Introduction
• Violence against women and girls is one of the
most prevalent human rights violations in the
world
• It knows no social, economic, or national
boundaries
• Worldwide an estimated one in three women
will experience physical or sexual abuse in her
lifetime
 Introduction contd.
• Gender-based violence undermines the health,
dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, yet
it remains shrouded in a culture of silence
• Victims of violence can suffer sexual and
reproductive health consequences, including
forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe
abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted
infections including HIV, and even death
 Definition of Gender Violence
Exertion of physical, psychological and emotional
force so as to injure an opposite sex (Heise,
Ellisoberg & Gottemoeller, 1999).

It is an extreme, destructive, or uncontrollable force

It could be between countries, organisations, and

• Physical violence or threats

• Sexual abuse or threat

• Psychological/emotional abuse
 The Cycle of Intimate Partner Violence
Gender based Violence can follow a three-stage cycle
that repeats over and over:
 Tension-building stage
 Violent stage: Tension explodes, resulting in severe
abuse
 Honeymoon stage: The abuser apologizes, promises
to stop the abuse, and often is very loving
 Sexual Violence
Definition: Sexual violence is all completed or
attempted sexual contact or behaviour that happens
without the victims clear or voluntary consent.
Sexual violence includes:
 Improper and unwanted touching, kissing, fondling
 Sexual assault, such as rape or attempted rape
(vaginal, oral, or anal).
 Unwanted sex with a partner, spouse, or date
 Verbal, visual, or other noncontact sexual actions
that force a person to join in unwanted sexual
contact or attention
Risk Factors for Experiencing Sexual Violence

• Young age
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Living in poverty
 Stalking
• Definition: a pattern of repeated, un-wanted
attention, harassment, or contact that directly
or indirectly communicates a threat or scares
a person. It include:
• Appear in her home,
• Work or sit outside her home,
• Make harassing phone calls
• leave written messages or objects,
• Damage or steal her things,
• Harass her through the internet, e-mail, or chat
room,
• Use a hidden camera to watch her
• Use computer software and hardware tools to track
and harass her.
• Send gifts or love letters or call all the time.
 Cyber Stalking
• use of the Internet, e-mail, or other forms of
online communications to stalk another
person. It includes:
• Harassment or threats in chat rooms
• E-mail, instant messages (IM), or text
message threats and harassment
• Improper messages on a message board or in
a guest book
• Obscene or improper e-mail messages or photo
attachments
• Sending electronic viruses
• Someone pretending to be you in a chat room
• Tracing your computer and Internet use
 Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is when one person in a
relationship purposely hurts another person
physically or emotionally. It include:
• Physical abuse like hitting, shoving, kicking, or
throwing things.
• Emotional abuse like yelling, controlling what you
do, or threatening to cause serious problems for
you.
• Sexual abuse like forcing you to do something
sexual you don't want to do.
 Commercial Sexual Exploitation
In some developing countries of the world, most girls
are made to prostitute under the guise of sex
tourism.
Sex tourism according to UNICEF happens when rich
men travel during the holidays from the advanced
countries of the world to third world countries. to
have sexual dealings with children of between 13
and 15years.
 Levels of Gender-based Violence
• Violence within the Home: Domestic violence is the
most prevalent form of gender-based violence
• Violence Against Women within the General
Community: Physical, sexual and psychological
violence
• Violence against Women Perpetrated by the State:
due to customs and traditions
 Factors that Contribute to Violence against
Women
• Societal level-cultural influences, where
gender roles are strictly defined and enforced.
• Socioeconomic level-poverty
• Stress
• Within relationships-male control of wealth
and decision making.
• Relationship instability
• Research has it that women with high number
of children are also prone to abuse.
Early Warning Signs of those who can Practice
Violence against Women
• An individual who acts aggressive.
• Those who mistreats animals.
• Reacts badly to stress.
• Have a low self-esteem (for the men) in a
relationship.
• Have extreme emotional highs and lows.
 An individual who abuses drugs or alcohol.
• A person who has poor relationships with others.
• An individual who was born into an extremely
abusive home.
• Those who come from cultures that has no regard
for women.
• Those who were taught verbally, that women are
just creatures to satisfy pleasures of men.
• Those who think nothing good can come from a
woman.
• A man who thinks women are just babies making
machines.
• Any individual who has no respect for the girl-child.
• Those who have quick temper and lots of anger,
punch walls or throw things when angry.
• Those who have a bad history of relationship.
• Those who need to be in control of relationships.
• A history of a partner abuse, depression.
• Any person who thinks violence is all right.
• A victim of, or exposed to, violence as a child.
• A man with no control of career stress.
• Extreme male stereotyped behaviors.
• Men or boys who have fantasies about forced
sex (rape).
• Men with preference for impersonal sex.
Effects of Violence against Women
• Mental health e.g. Depression, Low self-esteem,
loss of confidence, Posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD)
• Physical health e.g risk of sexually transmitted
infections , Unwanted pregnancies, Injuries such
as bruises.
• Social e.g Stigma and discrimination, trouble
getting medical, social, and legal services
• Strained relationships with friends and family
• Social isolation
 Role of a Nurse towards Violence against
Women
• Promoting community involvement
• Preventing violence against women through
Organizations e.g Nursing Network on Violence
Against Women (NNVAW)
• Encourage Government to make Policy that fights
against women violence
• Health Education
• Encourage women participation in decision making
• Rehabilitative measures
• Discourage media productions that celebrate abuse
of women
 Build on young people capacity to build relationship
 Support adult males to speak out against violence
 CONCLUSION
• Violence against women is an evil that should not
be tolerated at all cost
• As Nurses, we must fight this with the
understanding that women are blessed creatures
and whoever has them is terribly blessed beyond
measures.
 References
• Bitangora, B. (1999). “Rape, the Silent Cancer among Female Refugees”. In:
Conveying Concerns; Women Report on Gender-based Violence. Washington:
Population Reference Bureau, Measure communication.
• Brady, A. (2001). “Female Genital Mutilation: Complications and Risk of HIV
Transmission, AIDS Patient Care and STDS”. In Abandoning Female Genital
Cutting. Washington. Population Reference Bureau, Measure communication.
• Carr, D. (1997). Female Genital Cutting: Findings from the Demographic and
Health survey, Clavertion: MD International.
• Feming, A. (1999). “Rape-Are you at Risk?” in Conveying Concerns: Women
Report on Gender-based Violence. Washington. Population Reference Bureau,
• Heise, L; Ellisoberg and Gottemoeller, R. (1999). “Ending Violence Against
Women” Population Reports Series (ii). Baltimore: John Hopkins University.
• Mezieobi, K. A. (1994). “Contemporary issues in social studies Education”. In:
Social studies in Schools (eds.) Joof, G.W. and Amadi, H.C. Onitsha: Outrite
Publishers.
• Mohammed, A; Ali, N. and Yinger, N. (1999). “Female Genital Mutilation:
Pogrammes to Date” What Works and What Doesn’t. Geneva World Health
Organisation Press.
THANK YOU.