Violence Against Women
Violence against women is a serious issue that not many people know of, because “violence against women has long been shrouded in a culture of silence”.
(UNFPA)
“Violence against women” means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”
-United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (December, 20, 1993)
“Worldwide, one in three women has been beaten, coerced into unwanted sexual relations, or abused-often by a family member or acquaintance.”
Many women in the world are faced with violence, such as domestic violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and more.
Violence is caused when-There’s less income at home-Family beliefs that men are greater
than women-Men wants to get control over their
wives
Domestic Violence: Physical assault and bodily injury. Worse than cancer, accidents, or malaria
Psychological abuse: Violence through words that can harm women
Domestic violence is used most frequently toward women
Domestic Violence
Throws somethingPushesGrabsShovesSlapsKicks
Biteshit with fistbeat upthreaten with a gu
nor use it at partner
Psychological torture
Verbal degradation: Saying words that shame women; unpleasant words that hurt women
Threats to kill/hurt
“Violence is a pattern of behavior which a person establishes power/control over another person by means of fear and intimidation”
-NCADB (National Coalition against domestic violence)
After violence, women receive physical and medical problems
Broken bones, bruises, scars
HIV/AIDS, miscarriages, injuries to unborn children. Damages to their nervous system.
PTSD: Posttraumatic Stress DisorderStartling easily, emotional numbness, irri
tability or aggressiveness, get exposure to violence and negative health outcomes.
31% to 84% of all battered women receive PTSD.
Psychological abuse paralyzes women, and makes them helpless and stuck. PTSD usually develop from this abuse
What can women do?
Nothing
Women can’t flee their violent homes, because
Might have a child to care for
Doesn’t have a job
Parents are distant, unable, or unwilling to help
Might be scared to lose friends,family through talking to them.
No money or property
Women or child might be in poor health
The abuser might have threatened the women
Some brave women tries to end abusive relationships by f
leeing their husbands
However, thesewomen fall intoworse situations
45% of women who fled were murdered by
former partner
Women became assaulted, stalked, and threatened of m
urder
As, you see, these women are all helpless
As they think that nothing can be done about their situation, they become passive, depressed, fearful, and psychologically paralyzed.
Memory distortion, sleep/eating disorders, and medical problems occurs
Women often live in fear andremember the flashbacks of violent thoughts even long after the event had passed
Also, women can’t report rapes
They don’t get help, because they might be afraid of rapist, too ashamed, think it was just an accident, police doesn’t care, or police doesn’t believe their story of violence
As you see, these womencan’t avoid or escape the violence
They are STUCK
They need our help
WE can rescue them
How YOU can help
Go to organizations that deals with violence against women
Donate to them, volunteer for them, become a member of the
organizations, or participate actively in helping them
Organizations you can help:Amnesty InternationalNOW (National Organizations for Women)UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund f
or Women)
We can make this world a better place
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Mahatma Gandhi
Thank you
Bibliography
Doak, Melissa J. “Domestic Violence.” Defining Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. 1st edition. 8. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2009. Print.