Violence against women encompasses more than just physical aggression. It has a broader scope, incorporating sexual, emotional, psychological, and financial maltreatment. The phrase "violence against women" refers to any form of gender-related violence leading to, or with the potential to cause, physical, sexual, or psychological damage or distress to women. This includes instances of threatened actions, coercion, or unjustifiable restriction of freedom, whether experienced in public or private settings.
What are the Types of Violence against Women?
- Domestic violence, referred to as domestic abuse or intimate partner violence, involves a series of actions aimed at acquiring or retaining dominance and authority over a partner. It covers a range of physical, sexual, emotional, economic, and psychological behaviors or the anticipation of such behaviors that exert influence over another individual. This type of violence is prevalent among women worldwide.
Domestic violence can include the following:
- Economic violence entails actions or efforts to create a state of financial dependence by exerting complete authority over financial assets, restricting access to funds, and/or prohibiting engagement in education or work.
- Psychological violence encompasses generating fear through intimidation, issuing threats of physical harm to oneself, one's partner, or children, harming pets or property, engaging in manipulative tactics, or enforcing isolation from friends, family, school, and/or work.
- Emotional violence encompasses activities such as consistently criticizing to diminish a person's self-esteem, diminishing their skills through demeaning remarks, engaging in verbal abuse like name-calling, harming a partner's relationship with their children, or restricting a partner from interacting with friends and family.
- Physical violence comprises actions like causing harm or attempting to harm a partner through actions such as striking, kicking, burning, gripping, pushing, pulling hair, biting, withholding medical assistance, coercing substance use, or employing other forms of physical coercion. This may also extend to causing damage to property.
- Sexual violence entails compelling a partner to engage in a sexual activity against their will or without their consent. For example (rape, cultural rape, sexual harassment and corrective rape)
As we delve into the intricate aspects of violence against women, our exploration naturally extends to the alarming phenomenon of femicide.
Online or digital violence
Online or digital violence against women is any form of violence done against a woman just because she is a woman, or that is made worse by the use of information and communication technology (such as mobile phones, the internet, social media, computer games, text messages, email, etc.).
Online violence can include the following:
- Cyberbullying, sending intimidating or threatening messages.
- Non-consensual sexting, refers to the transmission of explicit messages or images without the recipient's agreement.
- Doxing, involves revealing private or identifying information about the victim to the public.
What are the causes of violence against women?
- Lower levels of education (committing sexual violence and encountering sexual violence).
- A history of exposure to child maltreatment (perpetration and experience)
- Observing domestic violence within the family (committing and experiencing)
- Community standards that favor or give men a greater status while giving women a lower position
- Inadequate gender equality (discriminatory laws, etc.)
- The unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women
- Men are unable to manage their feelings of anger or sexual desires.
What Are the Consequences of Violence Against Women?
There are profound and far-reaching consequences of violence against women that can extend across generations. Children learn from their surroundings, especially from their mothers who are often their first teachers and role models. A woman who is subjected to violence, living in a submissive and vulnerable state, is likely to raise children who are weak, submissive, and unsuccessful in their personal and professional lives. On the other hand, an independent and strong woman is more likely to raise children who are confident, independent, and successful in both their personal and professional lives.
The consequences of violence against women encompass physical, psychological, and economic dimensions, and have numerous implications for families as a whole:
· Physical Dimensions: Women who experience violence often suffer from a range of physical and mental health issues. This includes compromised immune systems due to psychological distress and self-neglect. Chronic conditions such as headaches, back and bone pain, digestive disorders, heart problems, and neurological disorders like fainting and anxiety are common among abused women. Pregnant women who experience violence may suffer from anemia, weakened immunity, and malnutrition, putting both themselves and their unborn child at risk.
· Psychological Dimensions: The negative psychological effects of violence against women are substantial. The violent acts they experience can diminish their self-worth, erode their self-confidence, and disrupt their mental health. Such experiences can impair their ability to think clearly, which, in turn, affects their capacity to function independently and securely in society. Women subjected to violence undergo successive stages of shock, denial, confusion, fear, and withdrawal. In cases of ongoing and recurrent violence, the consequences can be even more severe, including weakened personality, an inability to make long-term decisions or plans, increased rates of depression, and suicidal tendencies. Studies show that the more violence a woman experiences, the greater her psychological suffering, making it difficult for her to achieve psychological resilience.
· Economic Dimensions: The economic impact of violence against women is extremely costly. It includes various expenses, such as the treatment of physical injuries and severe bodily harm incurred by abused women. Additionally, substantial sums are spent on psychological therapy to help women overcome the psychological damage resulting from their experiences, including managing anxiety and trauma, addressing depression and discouragement stemming from mistreatment, and empowering them to become happier and more self-confident individuals. This also involves improving their ability to interact effectively with society.
Furthermore, the economic impact includes costs incurred by legal authorities, such as courts and police, in handling cases of violence and ensuring justice. These costs encompass programs aimed at assessing the behavior of individuals involved in violence. Additionally, there are costs related to social services and their programs designed to protect families and provide support to abused women and girls.
Women and girls subjected to violence also suffer negative economic repercussions. This includes diminished self-esteem and capabilities due to their exposure to abuse. As a result, they become less engaged with society and less effective in their daily tasks. They often experience loneliness and isolation due to depression and unwarranted anxiety. All of this leads to decreased efficiency in their jobs and, in some cases, job loss, which can significantly impact both corporate and national economies.
· Family Dimensions: Violence against women can have significant impacts on the entire family, particularly on children. Children are directly and indirectly affected by the violence their mothers experience. Direct effects can manifest as physical, psychological, or sexual harm to children. Moreover, the household environment, saturated with violence and tension, can negatively affect children's mental health. This is evident in children's behavior, as they may become more aggressive and engage in violent acts towards others. Their school performance and academic achievements may decline, and they may struggle with psychological well-being, increasing their risk of delinquency during adolescence. In severe cases, violence can lead to suicide attempts.
On both economic and social fronts, domestic violence contributes to the disintegration and instability of families, impacting individuals' ability to work and secure their livelihoods. This, in turn, affects their contribution to economic development. Individuals living in violent environments find it challenging to meet the basic needs of their families, including healthcare. These individuals are often low-income earners and lack the capacity to address their psychological and physical issues due to the psychological and physical stress they endure from the violence.
In conclusion, violence against women is a complex issue influenced by a range of factors including family dynamics, societal norms, individual behaviors, and gender inequality. Various forms of violence, both physical and digital, can lead to devastating consequences for women. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive efforts that encompass education, policy changes, cultural shifts, and promoting gender equality to ensure the safety and well-being of women in all aspects of their lives.
Promoting awareness and educating children about violence against women represents a crucial stride towards nurturing a forthcoming generation that champions respect, empathy, and equality. By instilling values of compassion and empowerment, we equip children to advocate for a world devoid of violence, where the rights and dignity of every individual are safeguarded and upheld.
What are the efforts of SOS Children's Villages Jordan to combat violence against women?
The Safe Homes (Malath) project was launched at the beginning of 2022. It consists of temporary safe houses for women who have experienced violence, along with their children. Through this project, various services are provided, including accommodation, food, education, mental health support, legal services, as well as economic empowerment programs, educational training, and entrepreneurship initiatives.
*Our project "Improving Access to Comprehensive GBV Services in #Jordan" is funded by the European Union in Jordan and implemented by AECID Jordan in collaboration with UNFPA Jordan.
The association also operates and manages the “Dar Al Wefaq” in Aqaba through a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Social Development. The project aims to empower women, keep their children with them, and provide them with a dignified life.
It is worth noting that the Safe Houses project falls within the “Executive Plan for Basic Services for Women and Girls Victims of Violence 2021-2023,” in cooperation between the National Council for Family Affairs and the UNFPA.