The 7 types of gender-based violence (and characteristics)

Gender-based violence can take different forms. We summarize them in this article.

A woman arrives at the hospital due to a series of injuries.. A bruise over the eye, burns, scratches on the back, a fractured wrist, damage to the genital tract, a history of hospital visits for alleged falls... Although they may be due to many different causes, the combined presence of these factors raises suspicions of gender-based violence.

This type of violence is still a problem in today's society and has taken the lives of many people who have been killed by their partners. But gender-based violence is not limited to physical aggression. There are several types of gender violencewhich denigrates and undermines a person's status because of their gender.

The concept of gender violence

Gender-based violence (or machista violence, according to other sources) is understood as all types of violence that violate the physical, psychological or relational well-being of a person because of his or her sex or gender identity. Aggression is used intentionally, either by means of physical force or with the purpose of causing harm, coercing, limiting or manipulating the person subjected to violence.

This type of violence can have devastating effects on the victims.. At the physical level, serious injuries can lead to incapacitation, coma or even death. On a psychological level, people who suffer gender-based violence are often unable to report it, usually due to fear of possible repercussions for themselves or their loved ones, the presence of disbelief or the belief that they will not be supported.

It is also not uncommon for victims to feel guilty or responsible for the situation or to fear causing Pain to others (for example, in the presence of children). Depending on the type of education received or the length of time the victim may have been manipulated, they may even feel that this is normal behavior and/or that they feel deserving of it.

Causes

Generally, the aggressor is driven by a desire for power and domination, and is often influenced by stereotypes and stereotypes of the victim. is often influenced by gender stereotypes.. Generally behind this there are feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem that are attempted to be compensated through the domination of those whom the individual considers inferior or incapable of coping with him/her.

It is also possible that there is an exaggerated self-esteem with narcissistic overtones that produces that one considers one's own rights above those of others. Instrumental maltreatment directed at a specific target may be encountered in some cases. Finally, the absence of empathy is a phenomenon and/or uncontrolled impulsivity may facilitate aggression.

Distinguishing types of aggression

When we talk about gender violence we usually think of situations in which aggression occurs within a couple.. The most common situation of gender violence is that of a man who commits a series of continuous and systematic abuses against a woman just because she is a woman, whom he considers inferior or pretends to dominate.

This is why gender violence is often confused with macho violence or violence against women. However, it should not be forgotten that there are also men who suffer this type of violence from their partners. Furthermore, although it is not usually considered gender-based violence because it is not based on sex or sexual identity, the existence of intimate partner violence in same-sex couples should not be forgotten. This is why nowadays, more than gender violence, we should speak of intimate partner violence.

Types of gender-based violence

As indicated above, the concept of gender-based violence includes a wide variety of attitudes and actions that can harm a person in different ways. Ultimately, there are many ways to harm a person.

Although not in all cases the person is assaulted in all areas, gender-based violence includes a wide variety of attitudes and actions that can harm the person from different dimensions, within gender-based violence we can find the following types of violence.

1. Physical violence

The most visible and recognized as gender-based violence, physical violence is considered to be any act in which physical harm is inflicted on the victim through direct aggression.. Such damage may be temporary or permanent.

Within this type of violence are included blows, wounds, fractures, scratches. Although they can sometimes be trivialized or considered to occur during an argument, pushing and shoving also fall into the category of physical violence. They can lead to physical incapacitation due to the consequences of the aggressions and, depending on the level of damage caused, can even lead to death.

Psychological violence

This type of violence is characterized by the fact that, although at the physical level there may be no aggression, the victim is humiliated, undervalued and psychologically attacked.. This attack can be direct and actively carried out in the form of insults and humiliation or carried out in a more passive way, devaluing the partner without the latter considering that he/she is suffering an attack.

Psychological violence includes the presence of humiliation, threats and coercion (in some cases using the threat of physical aggression against the victim or relatives), contempt and devaluation. It also makes the person feel helpless, obliged to do certain actions and dependent on the aggressor, guilty of the abusive situation and deserving of punishment.

Due to the fact that on many occasions direct aggression is not perceived in the message, many victims are not aware that they are being abused and do not take action against the aggressor. It can be considered that in practically all cases of gender violence, regardless of the type and motive, there is psychological violence.

3. Sexual violence

Although in some way it could be considered within the physical violence, sexual violence refers specifically to those types of situations in which a person is forced or coerced to carry out activities of a sexual nature against his or her will, or against his or her will. against his or her will, or in which sexuality is limited or imposed by another person.

Penetration and sexual intercourse are not required. It includes the presence of rape within the couple, forced prostitution, forced conception or abortion, genital mutilation, sexual harassment or unwanted touching, among others.

4. Economic violence

This type of violence is based on the reduction and deprivation of economic resources to the partner or their offspring as a measure of coercion, manipulation or with the intention of harming their integrity. or their offspring as a measure of coercion, manipulation or with the intention of harming their integrity. It is also considered as such the fact of forcing economic dependence on the aggressor, preventing the victim's access to the labor market by means of threats, coercion or physical restriction.

5. Property violence

Violence against property is considered to be the usurpation or destruction of objects, goods and property of the victim of violence with intent to of the victim of violence with the intention of dominating her or causing her psychological harm. In many ways, these assets are the fruit of decades of work, and destroying them is a way of showing that all those efforts have been for nothing. However, it should be noted that this type of aggression can affect other people at the same time, especially neighbors.

6. Social violence

Social violence is based on the limitation, control and induction of social isolation of the person.. The victim is separated from family and friends, deprived of social support and removed from his or her usual environment. Sometimes the victim is set against his or her environment, resulting in either the victim or the environment deciding to disengage.

For example, attacks against the facade of the home are very characteristic of this type of violence, as they leave visible signs for everyone to see that the victim deserves to be attacked in full view of everyone.

7. Vicarious violence

A large number of couples in which gender-based violence occurs have children.. On many occasions the aggressor decides to threaten, assault and even kill these children in order to harm his partner or ex-partner.

This type of violence is called vicarious violence, which also includes the harm caused to minors by the observation of abuse between parents. The psychological impact is what is sought, through control, subjugation and aggression to people who are not directly involved in the core of the conflict.

Beware: gender-based violence is not only intimate partner violence.

When we think of gender-based violence, the first thing we think of is the existence of abuse in intimate partner situations. But gender-based violence is not specific to the couple, but can occur in multiple settings without the need for the perpetrator to be a spouse. Institutions, the family and society in general can also be places where situations of gender-based violence such as the above can occur. as the previous ones.

It is necessary to work to prevent and raise awareness among citizens, educating them in different aspects such as tolerance of diversity, equal rights and opportunities and emotional education in order to avoid new situations of gender violence.

Bibliographical references:

• Durán, M. (2004). Legal-feminist analysis of the Organic Law of Integral Protection Measures against Gender Violence. Article 14. A gender perspective. Boletín de Información y Análisis Jurídico. Andalusian Institute for Women.

• Kilmartin, C; Allison, J. A. (2007). Men's Violence Against Women: Theory, Research, and Activism. Routledge.

• Ley Orgánica de Medidas de Protección Integral contra la Violencia de Género de 28 de diciembre de 2004, BOE de 29 de diciembre de 2004.

• Lorente, M. (2001). Mi marido me pega lo normal. Agresión a la mujer: realidades y mitos. Ares y Mares, Editorial Crítica, Madrid.

• Perez, J.M.; Montalvo, A. (2010). Gender violence: analysis and approach to its causes and consequences. Gender violence: prevention, detection and care. Editorial Grupo.