The document discusses gender-based violence and domestic abuse. It defines violence and gender-based violence, and outlines various forms such as physical, psychological, economic, and sexual violence. It also discusses why women may stay in abusive relationships due to barriers like financial dependence, fear of the abuser, or beliefs that the abuse is justified. The cycle of abuse is described including tension building, the incident of violence, and reconciliation phases. The psychological stages battered women experience and methods to empower victims are also presented.

1. SYBAN
Gender Violence
Presented By:
Waqas A. Khan
PhD (Scholar) UMT, Master Trainer

2. SYBAN
Definitions
Violence: is any act that causes
injury or harm, intimidates or
causes fear, and demeans or
humiliates a person.

3. SYBAN
Definitions
Gender-based Violence: violence
involving men and women, in which the
woman/female is usually the victim and
which arises from unequal power
relationships between men and women.
<ILO South East Asia & Pacific Multidisciplinary
Advisory Team, 1998> In other words, its violence
committed in an intimate relationship.

4. SYBAN
Forms of Gender-based Violence
- Physical. Acts that include bodily
harm. Beating, kicking,
punching, burning, arm-twisting,
arm twisting, etc.
Note: In over 95% of all domestic abuse violence,
the man is the batterer/perpetrator.

5. SYBAN
Forms of Gender-based Violence
Psychological: Refers to words or actions that
destroy or harm a woman’s belief in herself.
What it does is demean or disempower a
woman; undermining her mental or emotional
well-being. Humiliating remarks, public
ridicule, intimidation, threats, forced
imprisonment, isolation, instilling fear, stalking,
“always checking up,” forced to witness injurly
to pet, unfounded accusations, silent treatment.

6. SYBAN
Forms of Gender-based Violence
Economic: withdrawal of financial support,
maintaining total control of family finances,
running up bills for which the victim is
responsible for payment, forbidding
employment/occupation.
Sexual: forcing the victim to do indecent
acts, forced prostitution, withholding sex.

7. SYBAN
Forms of Gender-based Violence
Treating the woman as a sexual object
Forcing the woman to watch
obscene/indecent shows
NOTE: Whether the abuse is physical,
psychological, sexual, or economic, the heart
of the problem is always an imbalance of
power. The abuser learns that coercion works!
That violence could give him easy results.

8. SYBAN
The Process of Abuse
 Binding – Describes the phase when the relationship is new and loving.
 Enduring – In the enduring phase, women tolerate the abuse because of
the positive aspects of the relationship or because they feel somewhat
responsible for the abuse.
 Disengaging - The disengaging period involves the woman’s recognition of
her situation as being abusive and the understanding that she does not
deserve such abuse. A turning point may be reached when the woman
realizes the danger or the consequences of the abuse to her health and to
her children.
 Recovery - After a time of readjustment, and successfully overcoming the
many barriers that could trap her in the abusive relationship, the woman
may enter a phase of recovery in which she remains separated from the
abuser. An important point for health care professionals to realize is that,
from the woman's perspective, the abuse was just one aspect of a whole
relationship that may still have some positive elements.
Source: Model developed by Landenburger (1989)

9. SYBAN Why Women Stay in an Abusive
Relationship?
 The man might change for the better
 She still loves the man despite everything
 She is doing it for the children (so as not to have a
broken family)
 She cannot support the children by herself
 She is afraid of what the husband might do to her.
 The husband might take the children
 She “probably deserves the beating”
<Women’s Legal Bureau>

10. SYBAN
Barriers to Leaving
a Violent Partner
 Gender Roles and lack of Family Support
 Some women feel obligated to stay in a relationship, even if it is abusive.
 Women are often expected to stay in a marriage, and they may consider themselves a
failure if they leave their husband.
 They may assume that violence is just part of life and marriage.
 Concern for Her Own Safety
 Leaving a violent relationship can be more dangerous for the woman than staying.
 After leaving a relationship, women are more at risk of stalking, murder and attempted
murder (Campbell 2003).
 Women survivors are experts: they know whether & when it is safe for them to leave.
 Concern for Her Children’s Well Being
 In many cases, women may fear for their children’s safety if they decide to leave a
relationship.
 Men are often the financial providers for their families, and women may feel that they
simply cannot support their children on their own.

11. SYBAN
Barriers to Leaving
a Violent Partner
 Financial Concerns
 Men often are the primary earner in their families, and women may not have
developed the skills or the opportunities to support themselves financially.
 If women earn income, husbands often control the couple’s finances and assets.
In some places, legislation ensures child support following divorce; in other
places, such laws do not exist or are not enforced.
 Without access to income, women’s options for leaving a relationship are often
limited depending on available support services.
 Lack of Assistance or Services
 Even if a woman feels ready to leave a violent relationship, she may not find
support (family, friends) or services (e.g. shelters) to help implement this
decision.
 Contradictory feelings
 Often women have loved their abusive partner, and they may want to be with
him, holding out hope that he will change. Providers should be careful not to
judge the woman for this decision.
Source: adapted WHO (2005): TEACH VIP, injury prevention and control curriculum.

12. Exercise: Work Place Case - Why do Women Stay
SYBAN in Abusive Relationships?
Please think of a situation at your work place. Your chief/boss alternatively
praises you for your work and promises to raise your salary – and then
fiercely criticizes you. He/she embarrasses you at staff meetings in front of
your colleagues, but says after the meeting that he/she meant no harm to
you. You shouldn’t be so sensitive. He/she also bad-mouths you behind your
back – but expects one hundred percent loyalty from you. Sometimes
he/she is very nice and invites all colleagues for a coffee or a glass of wine
after work is finished.
Your work is interesting and you actually like it. You certainly do not want to
loose your job because you are over 40 and it would not be easy to find
another job in this area of expertise with the same salary. Furthermore you
have to care for your children and to pay for a loan for your car.
Source:WAVE-Network (Women against Violence Europe). (2000): Training and Awareness-Raising for
Professionals. (http://www.wave-network.org/images/doku/manual.pdf)

13. SYBAN
Linkages between HIV/AIDS & GBV
 A global review of 30,000 published and unpublished articles and UN
studies shows that GBV and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) increases the risk
of HIV infection. The Global AIDS Alliance explains why (selection):
 Violence against women is associated with an increased risk of
acquiring sexually transmitted infections, a risk factor of HIV.
 Violent sexual assault can cause trauma to the vaginal wall that allows
easier access to HIV.
 Fear of violence prevents women from negotiating safe sex.
 Fear of violence prevents women from seeking voluntary counseling and
testing for HIV, returning for their test results, or getting treatment if
they are HIV positive or services to prevent mother-to-child HIV
transmission.

14. SYBAN
Barriers to Leaving: Situational…
 Economic dependence
 Fear of greater physical danger/ suffering worse
 Fear of emotional damage to children
 Fear of losing custody of children
 Lack of alternative housing and/or job skills
 Social isolation
 “Acceptable violence”
 Ties to the community, her home, belongings
 Family pressure

15. SYBAN
Barriers to Leaving: Emotional…
 Insecurity. Afraid she can’t cope
 Pity/ Fears he might commit suicide
 Denial. “It’s really not that bad.”
 Love. Especially during the “Honeymoon stage”.
 Shame
 Unfounded hopefulness. “Things will get better”
 Learned helplessness.
 Demolished self-esteem

16. SYBAN Barriers to Leaving: Personal
Beliefs
Parenting. Needing a partner to raise kids.
Religious pressure. To keep family together no
matter what.
Duty. I swore to stay married until death do us
part.
Belief that marriage is forever
Responsibility. It’s up to her to work things out
and save the relationship.

17. SYBAN
Profile of Batterers
Believe that violence could give them
easy results
Insecure. Extremely jealous and
possessive
Emotionally dependent on their wives
Extenalize blame for their actions
Have poor impulse control

18. SYBAN
Profile of Batterers (cont)
Low self-esteem. Poor self image
Engage in internalization of traditional male
roles (being the head)
Cannot translate their feelings into words, so
they act it out.
Deny that they are violent.

19. SYBAN
Profile of Battered Women
They believe that violence done to them was
their fault.
They fear for their lives as well as the lives of
their children
They have irrational belief that the abuser is
omnipotent
They are unable to place the responsibility for
the violence elsewhere

20. Levels of
Violence
SYBAN

21. SYBAN Effects of Violence Against
Women: Social/Economic
 Lost working hours for the abused and their abusers
 Pressure on health care system and other social services
 Income loss for the abused breadwinner
 Detrimental effects on school performance of abused children
 Long term consequences of abuse. (intergenerational
transmission)
 Violation of human rights and policy of state.
 Deters potential contribution to national development.
 Economic costs on the victims like home displacement, legal
costs, medical costs.

22. SYBAN Effects of Violence Against
Women:Mental/Emotional
Fears, nervousness
Sleeping disorders (nightmares, insomnia)
Depression, nervous breakdown, suicidal attempts
(tulala, nasisiraan ng bait)
Shame, guilt, self-blaming, loss of self-esteem and
confidence
Relationship among family members is affected,
especially the victim of abuse.

23. SYBAN
Violence Wheel
Power &
Control
Wheel
Source: Domestic
Abuse
Intervention
Project, Duluth.

24. SYBAN
Non-Violence Wheel

25. SYBAN
Cycle of Abuse
 By Lenore
Walker

26. SYBAN
Cycle of Abuse
-Tension building.
Tension is increased.
Breakdown of communication
Victim becomes fearful and feels the need to pacify
the abuser.
-Incident. Verbal, physical, threats, blaming.
-Reconciliation.
Abuser apologizes, gives excuses
Blames victim
 Says it wasn't as bad as the victim claims
-CalmIncident is forgotten (“Honeymoon” phase)

27. Psychological Stages of Battered
SYBAN
Women
 Denial. The victim refuses to admit… she may call
each incident an “Accident”.
 Guilt. She new acknowledges there’s a problem, but
considers herself responsible for it.
 Enlightenment. She no longer assumes responsibility
for her husband’s abusive behavior/treatment. She
recognizes that she does not deserve to be beaten.
 Responsibility. Accepts that her husband will not and
cannot stop his violent behavior. The battered woman
decides she will no longer submit to it and starts a new
life.

28. SYBAN How to Empower Victims of
Violence
i Reinforce the victim’s self-esteem for her
psychological healing. Identify positive traits and
coping mechanisms that she has been using. Consider the
following:
 GENESIS 2:18. Happy and complementary
 II PETER 3:7. Husbands should assign honor to their
wives.
 MATTHEW 28 Jesus dignified women by allowing
them to be the first eyewitnesses of His resurrection.
 PROVER 31. Picture of the ‘Capable Wife’

29. SYBAN How to Empower Victims of
Violence
B. If possible, make her aware of the
available support systems. (NGOs etc.)
C. Facilitate the opportunity and ability of
the victim to independently regain
control over her life.

30. SYBAN How to Empower Victims of
Violence
D. Encourage her to join religious groups
for social support.
E. Women, especially the abused, should
be educated about their rights and be
taught to speak up if abused.

31. SYBAN How to Empower Victims of
Violence
F. Be aware that during the ‘honeymoon’ stage, the
victims may not be willing to discuss the abuse.
Inform and describe to them about the cycle of
abuse. There’s also a tendency that after each turn
of a cycle, the violence can increase in frequency
and severity
G. The victims should be given strategies for their
own safety and that of their children’s such as
avoiding confrontations in rooms where there is
only one exit or rooms containing many potential
weapons.

32. SYBAN
Thank You
www.waqas.org
info@waqas.org