Gender violence is violent behavior carried out by one sex towards another. The notion generally names violence against women (that is, cases in which the victim belongs to the female gender). In this sense, the notions of domestic violence, intimate partner violence and sexist violence are also used.

It should be noted that violence is behavior that is carried out consciously and on purpose to cause some type of harm to the victim. Originating from the Latin violenceĭa, violence can seek to harm physically or emotionally. Gender, for its part, is a concept with several uses. On this occasion we are interested in highlighting its meaning as the group of beings that share certain characteristics.

TYPES OF GENDER VIOLENCE

Specifically, we can establish that there are three clearly differentiated types of gender violence. Thus, in the first place, there is the so-called physical violence, which is that in which the woman is the victim of abuse that leaves traces on her appearance. This would be the case of hits, pushes, kicks, bites or all those that are caused by the aggressor when using his hands or objects such as knives.

Secondly, there is what is known as psychological gender violence. This is what takes place when the man attacks the woman through insults, humiliation, contempt or threats. In this way, the victim is the result of manipulation that results in her feeling despised, defenseless and even guilty of her partner's reactions.

In this sense, it must be stated that within this type of non-physical violence we can find two clearly differentiated classes. Thus, there is the economic one, which is characterized by the man trying to prevent the woman from having access to work or family money so that she depends on him. And then there is the social one, which is what the aggressor uses so that his victim isolates herself from her surroundings and does not have contact with anyone who can open her eyes and see the situation in which she finds herself.

Thirdly, in addition to physical and psychological gender violence, there is sexual violence. In this case, the man uses coercion or threat to establish sexual relations that are not desired by the woman. It should be noted that, on many occasions, cases of family violence are not usually reported, since the victim may be afraid of living with someone violent or may even feel ashamed of the situation.

It is important to note that, in 1999, the UN General Assembly declared November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The date commemorates the murder of the Mirabal sisters, three Dominican activists.

Gender violence outside the couple

When thinking about sexist violence or gender violence we usually immediately think of a couple, but this is a mistake. Sexist violence can appear anywhere, and it is not necessary for two people to be a couple for it to occur. Both in institutions and in our social or family circle, cases of this type of violence can occur, since it is present throughout society in general. It is for this reason that it is so important to raise awareness among all citizens from a young age, educating them in emotions, tolerance and equality so that they do not appear.

Forms of gender violence

Gender violence is a situation in which we can find different types, although many times several occur at the same time. These types are normally classified according to the attitude of the person who is exercising this type of violence, and are the following:

• Physical violence

It is the first thing that usually comes to mind when talking about sexist violence. It is related to the direct physical damage that the abuser does to the victim, which can lead to her death. Physical violence is understood to range from pushing to punching, since it is any type of aggression that puts the physical health of the victim at risk. Physical violence is a situation that sadly continues to occur every day throughout the world, causing very serious situations for the person who suffers it.

• Sexual violence

Many people include it within physical violence, although it is considered a separate type as it encompasses all types of attacks that affect the victim in some sexual way. Sexual violence does not only refer to the sexual act or penetration, since it also includes touching a person without their permission or sexually harassing them, which can also occur online.

• Psychological violence

It is not necessary for one person to hit another for violence to exist. When a person is being undervalued, suffers humiliation and humiliation, they also suffer a type of violence. Psychological violence is more difficult to distinguish, especially when the acts are committed in a more indirect than direct way.

Within this type of violence we find the following acts:

• Abuse
• Indignities
• Humiliate
• Threaten
• Exercise coercion
• Devalue
• Despise

All of this can cause great insecurity for the victim, who does not know how to defend themselves against these attacks. What's more, this type of violence is what usually causes the victim to not report the abuser or take any type of measure.

• Social violence

It is related to psychological violence, although it only affects the social life of the victim, their way of relating and how the people around them perceive them. In these cases, the aggressor causes the victim to remain isolated, without the people who have always supported them. Without this support, which is usually essential to take the step of reporting the abuser, the affected person feels much more helpless and dependent. In the case of believing that someone is suffering some type of violence, disassociation with the closest circle is usually the first sign to realize what is happening.

• Vicarious type violence

A type of violence that appears when there are children within the couple and the abuser uses them to coerce the mother and harm her, even harming them or causing her death to demonstrate the power that he can exercise if he does not They meet their objectives. This type of abuse therefore does not end up affecting the mother, but the children also become victims of the situation, which has a great negative psychological impact on them.

• Economic violence

When a person's right to be financially free is taken away and he or she is no longer solvent, the abuser takes advantage of the situation to get what he or she wants. It is a type of coercion and manipulation, so it could also fall under psychological violence. Manipulating a person by taking advantage of their lack of financial solvency is a very mean way of damaging their integrity as a person, even leading to them not being able to look for a job because this would make them financially independent.

• Patrimonial violence

Closely related to economic violence, although it is more related to possessions than to money itself. When something of a person's property, such as assets, is taken away or destroyed, this type of violence is exercised. Like economic violence, this type of gender violence serves to make the victim more dependent on the abuser and feel defenseless in the situation. Damaging the facade of a house, or the victim's car, also falls under patrimonial violence.