Table of contents:
1- What is gender-based violence?
2- What are the symptoms?
3- Causes of gender violence
4- Can it be prevented?
5- What does psychological treatment consist of?
What is gender violence?
Gender violence is any situation of physical or psychological violence that is exercised on someone based on their gender and has a negative impact on their physical, psychological and social well-being and identity. It differs from other types of violence in that it is inflicted on other individuals or groups based on their sex or gender. It is most commonly perpetrated by men against women.
There are several types of gender violence:
- Physical violence: is that based on physical aggression such as pushing or hitting. It is the most visible type of violence for the victim and the environment, so it is usually the one that makes the victim aware that he/she must get away from the toxic relationship.
- Psychological violence: this is more subtle and is intrinsic to all types of violence. The most frequent forms are threats, insults, contempt, humiliation or manipulation. This type of violence is less visible and is often the first to appear, increasing the aggressor’s position of superiority over the victim, who loses all self-confidence. Within psychological violence could be considered economic violence, which controls or prohibits the victim’s access to money, or social violence, which controls the victim’s friendships, as well as her contact with her family and loved ones.
- Sexual violence: this type of gender violence is based on physical or psychological pressure on the victim to maintain an unwanted sexual relationship through intimidation, threats, coercion or helplessness.
What are the symptoms?
Gender violence causes a series of physical and psychological symptoms in the victim that vary depending on the type of violence, the aggressions caused and the victim’s personality. The main signs in the victim of gender violence are:
- Low self-esteem
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Physical marks and discomfort
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Isolation and loss of social relationships
- Feelings of helplessness
- Irritability
- Insecurity and indecisiveness
- Guilt
- Eating problems
There are different types of gender violence:
physical, psychological, economic and sexual
Causes of gender-based violence
The main cause of gender violence is that the aggressor feels superior to the victim and seeks to dominate the relationship under his criteria, annulling the other person.
Can it be prevented?
Avoiding toxic relationships is one way to prevent gender violence. On the other hand, a good education and family environment help prevent aggressive and violent behavior in children when they reach maturity.
It is very important to detect a toxic relationship and gender violence as soon as possible in order to end it immediately and minimize the consequences it produces in the victim.
What does psychological treatment consist of?
In most cases the woman will need psychological help to treat the after-effects of all the physical and psychological aggressions received in the relationship. In some cases the help of the psychologist will also be necessary during the relationship, since he/she may need help to get out of the toxic relationship.
On the other hand, the profile of the aggressor should also take psychological help to stop adopting aggressive behaviors.