Gender-Based Violence
In a recent study that surveyed 100 women from age 3 to age 17 years old, it was found that most girls found sexual harassment, abuse, and objectification an accepted aspect of life and came to expect it as “normal” due to their socialization.
The problem of victim blaming is discussed in rape court cases, specifically in the case of the 24 year old woman with down syndrome whose judge overturned the court ruling, claiming that the woman didn’t act enough like a victim.
Stephanie Sarkis describes what actions indicate “gaslighting” in a relationship, where someone causes their friend or partner to question their own reality in order to manipulate and control them. Relating to gender issues, in male-dominated interactions, women may feel that they encounter the warning signs of gaslighting described in the article so that a male can discount the woman’s point of view and control the conversation.
Esta Soler discusses the immense progress society has made in ending domestic violence toward women since her activism in the 1980’s due to technology and social media, reporting a 64% drop in domestic violence from 1993 to 2010.
Data suggests that violent crimes are highly correlated with domestic violence cases in individuals, demonstrating the importance of working towards ending domestic violence through independent feminist movements.
In a Pennsylvania court, a 24 year old woman was blamed for her rape in a prison while she was working as a prison clerk and an inmate entered her office.
The NFL wants to crack down on domestic violence but is not sure how to go about it; even researchers studying how to end domestic violence are unsure of the best method as well as the actual causes of domestic violence.
After escaping both a physically abusive relationship and from being financial controlled by her abuser, Kaylin Risker created of the organization “Sisters Acquiring Financial Empowerment,” where she and her staff help to empower women in abusive relationships financially in order to help them be able to support themselves.
Results from a recent evaluation of gun deaths in the U.S. found that a majority of mass shootings are linked to domestic/family violence.
Gloria Steinem reports the shocking numbers showing that the death toll of women due to intimate partner violence in the U.S. is more than that of 9/11 deaths and all the American deaths from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
An infographic provides a visual of statistics on domestic violence in the United States.
The author talks about why watching the video of Ray Rice’s fiance being battered in an elevator indirectly re-victimizes her and the reasons why people should stop watching the video.
York,M. (2011) Gender Attitudes and Violence Against Women (Criminal Justice: Recent Scholarship), LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC.
York seeks to answer the question of the extent to which traditional beliefs about gender or gender roles are associated with increased levels of sexual assault and/or domestic violence. The prevalence of traditional gender attitudes predicted rates of violence against women, specifically sexual assault and domestic violence.
Available through Reeves library e-books.
Meera Vijayann shares her own painful personal experiences with sexual assault growing up in India, and she uses her powerful message to urge other women to speak out about their experience in order to spark change in Indian society.
The Blameworthy Victim: Domestic Violence Myths and the Criminalization of Victimhood
This study is one of the first to investigate the views of college students towards domestic violence victims who stay in abusive relationships. The study found the there is a correlation between negative societal views towards domestic violence victims and criminal justice penalties against women for repeat incidents of victimization.
Policastro, C., & Payne, B. K. (2013). The blameworthy victim: Domestic violence myths and the criminalization of victimhood. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 22(4), 329-347.
Out of an estimated 87,000 women killed last year, some 50,000 — or 58% — were killed by partners or family members, a new UN study said, making the home the most dangerous place for women.
Bent-Goodley, T. (2016) Cultural Factors in Intimate Partner Violence. Online training offered by www.westernschools.com. Course #B4234.
Course material may be read for no cost via this link, or with payment of a fee and completion of a quiz, continuing education credits may be earned for licensed professionals in various helping professions. Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs all over the world and is noteworthy for being present in all social, economic, ethnic, racial, religious, age, and ability groups. Culture is critical to addressing the needs of persons affected by IPV. Culture informs how people think and behave and how people view themselves, others, their relationships, and their roles in relationships, and their actual or perceived options. This course describes cultural factors as they relate to strengths and barriers in the cycle of IPV.
The handbook outlines some basic ways in which to begin the process of becoming aware on both an individual and institutional basis. Neither of these by themselves can lead to empowerment of survivors. Therefore, the handbook stresses the importance of reaching out to and working collaboratively with diverse communities so that the issues of domestic and sexual violence can be owned by one and all.