We explain what gender violence is and the types of violence that exist. In addition, what to do when faced with gender violence.
What is gender violence?
Gender violence is the violence that someone exerts on a person just because of their gender . We consider violent actions are those that negatively affect the way identity , the sexuality and reproductive freedom, health physical and mental and social well – being of a person.
The concept of gender violence, in some laws , is reduced to violence against women, but it is more complex than that . This type of violence includes dynamics of domination, including threats and arbitrary deprivation of political and civil liberties, regardless of the area in which they occur.
Among the most aberrant acts of gender violence we can find clitoral ablation, female infanticide, rapes, forced prostitution, abortions based on the sex of the unborn, violence against prostitutes, castration, human trafficking, harassment and harassment within organizations , and homolesophobic attacks.
Types of gender violence
Acts of psychological violence produce feelings of devaluation and suffering.
Physical :this type of violence implies an action that produces pain and injuries, or that is at risk of producing them. This type of aggression affects the physical integrity of theperson. It can occur in work, personal or family relationships alike and vary from push to attempted murder. This type of abuse is the easiest to prove in court.
Psychological :acts of psychological violence are all those that produce feelings of devaluation and suffering. These acts can range from insults, toextremeattitudesof control and reproaches, humiliation, authority,disrespect, imposing isolation or isolation, among others. Although its consequences are difficult to detect, its long-term effects can affect the mental and emotional stability of the victim.
Sexual :in this case actions that violate thefreedomto choose when, how and in what way to have sex will be called sexual violence. Even if this freedom is not violated by force, if not with threats or blackmail and intimidation. Sexual violence includes rape, abuse and interference in reproductive choices.
Economic :the actions that imply the retention, destruction or subtraction of goods or money illegitimately by the offender will be called economic violence. This type of aggression causes the decrease or total elimination of the physical and mental well-being of the victim and their children.
Symbolic :this type of oppression is exercised through messages,mediaandstereotypesforcing someone to take a lower position in relation to another gender.
Domestic :a violent act is considered domestic if it is done by a member of the family group, it is not necessary tolivewith the aggressor. Within the family group we can find blood relatives and affinity members as a couple.
Institutional :these types of acts are perpetrated by officials and personnel belonging to any public institution or organization. What characterizes these acts is that their purpose is to impede the exercise of rights and obtain public benefits in terms of health or other issues.
Obstetric :this type of violent action occurs fromworkersin the health sector to pregnant and non-pregnant women. Obstetric violence is considered both the abuse of medicalization and dehumanized treatment and the illegal intervention in reproductive rights.
What to do when faced with gender violence?
Many times the situations of violence cannot be foreseen, but in the case that we are victims of such an event there are a series of emergency actions that we must follow:
Give notice : First, we must call the police immediately.
Save documentation : Then we must keep our documentation and that of our children in a safe place.
Medical attention : The next step is to go to a health care center, the part that they issue from that branch will be referred to the local court in case it is necessary for legal actions. In the health care center, a psychologist can take our skills to record our psychological state at the time of the attack.
Collect evidence : Finally, we must not forget to take photographs of the injuries and get witnesses who can confirm having seen or heard the violence.