Perspectives on Violence Against Women: Social, Health, and Societal Consequences of Inter-partner Violence

Abstract

Introduction: Violence against women is an increasingly serious problem that is endemic worldwide and affects all ages—the unborn, girls, and young and elderly adults. In particular, inter-partner violence (IPV) and intimate partner femicide (IPF) have substantial costs in human suffering and health and justice-related societal costs. This chapter will examine the reasons, costs and consequences of IPV and IPF in Canada and the USA.

Main Body: IPV refers to mistreatment by a marital, common-law, or same sex partner. It may happen at any time during a relationship, including while it is breaking down, or after separation. Women are almost eight times more likely to be abused by an intimate partner than men, and 30 % of women currently or previously married have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence. There are a number of proposed motivations for both IPV and IPF including patriarchy, control, estrangement, and social issues. There are enormous societal costs of IPV in Canada, as well as physical and emotional consequences to the women. IPF, murder of women by their intimate partner or ex-partner, is disturbing. There are a number of reasons why abused women delay leaving their abusive relationships including lack of housing and support and fear of their abusive partner, and the justice system. Positive steps to reduce IPV and IPF include protective laws, shelters, and Domestic Violence Courts and Impact of Family Violence Conference reports, a 5-year initiative organized by Social Services Network looking at the impact of family violence from a South Asian Perspective.

Discussion: IPV and IPF are serious problems for both the women involved and the society. There is support for change but more needs to be done.

Implications: We address the relevance of the above issues and make recommendations for addressing the serious problem of IPV against women.

Response

• Naila Butt M.D., M.P.H. 

1. Social Services Network, Markham, Canada

   Naila Butt M.D., M.P.H.

I would like to begin with some of my own experiences and the research conducted by my organization Social Services Network in addressing the issue of violence against women. Growing up in a developing country, I felt frustrated with regards to the discrimination faced by women based on gender inequality, poverty, illiteracy and the so-called faith that was being used as a way to exert and maintain patriarchy. Son preference, sexual violence and harassment, child marriages, limited opportunities for women to pursue their education, and career and employment, as well as executing their reproductive rights, are some of the challenges faced by women.

I have also been acutely aware and grateful of the fact that I am one of the few fortunate women who achieved higher education, qualification, and position thanks to the male in my life—my father, who hails from the tribal area in Pakistan, where it is still a taboo to educate girls and female literacy is less than 7 %. His strong faith in women’s rights, equality, and empowerment encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. I am truly blessed and recognize the power of conviction, knowledge, and enabling environments in bringing change. My moral obligation has always motivated and inspired me in my work especially with women and children and to change the status quo.

With my background as a health professional and in community development I am also aware that women make up one half of the world’s human capital. Empowering and educating girls and women as well as leveraging their talent and leadership fully in the global economy, politics, and society are fundamental elements of succeeding and prospering in an ever more competitive world and a reality to reckon with.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2012 (Hausmann, Tyson, & Zahidi, 2012), published by the World Economic Forum, quantifies the magnitude of gender-based disparities based on economic participation, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Although it is no surprise that the Gender Gap Index 2012 (out of 135 countries) for a developing country like Pakistan is 134 while that for Canada it is 21, what was shocking for me when I immigrated to Canada “the land of equal opportunity and freedom of choice” was that for some communities the gap remained the same. It was heart breaking for me to see stereotypical images of Muslims, Sikhs, and South Asians being highlighted in the media as barbaric, tribal communities. My initial reaction was biased and judgmental and I was under the impression like others that some communities were bringing their cultural baggage and their versions of Islam and faith to Canada and just did not want to change the status quo despite the fact that there were so many opportunities. However, when I delved deeper into the issues through the work and the research conducted by my organization “Social Services Network” which works predominantly with immigrant South Asian communities, I changed my perspective. Over the last few years we have focused particularly on this issue by holding an annual Impact of Family Violence Conference with the theme, “A community development approach to addressing the issue of violence in South Asian communities”. This conference brings together all stakeholders including Police, Children’s Aid Society, schools, shelters, community agencies, and policy makers. The discourse over the last three years family violence conferences has yielded the results described below.

Family violence and violence against women are not unique to the South Asian community. All ethnic, racial, religious communities, sociocultural and economic strata, and faith groups experience their own manifestation of violence against women, seniors, and children. However, some women are more vulnerable and are more likely to experience violence, including women with disabilities, language and cultural barriers, young women, and Aboriginal women.

What started off as a discussion by a small group of volunteers concerned about addressing the issue of family violence in their community in York region is now a province-wide initiative, quickly catching national attention as word of our cross-sectoral movement is reaching concerned communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

The majority of participants in the Conference in 2011, 2012, and 2013 were in agreement that concepts of honour, religion, and culture provide an easy, simplistic explanation to the complex problems faced by South Asian families in Canada. What we are witnessing is a different type of patriarchy that uses the weapons of “culture” and “religion” to justify and legitimize it.

The ultimate goal of the provincial conference is to build the capacity of any given local community. Through the community development model, South Asian community leaders—women, seniors, men, and youth—with mainstream champions take the lead in mobilizing their local neighbourhoods to build safe and violence-free communities for South Asian women, seniors, and youth.