GET INFORMED
What is violence against women?
Violence is not a loss of control or an impulse on the part of aggressors.
It is a chosen behavior of domination over another; a means of asserting one’s power. This violence is :
intentional
recurring
cyclical
Various forms of violence
Violence can take many forms, but here are just a few.
Physical abuse
Any unwanted and unnecessary physical contact that causes physical pain, discomfort or injury.
Psychological or emotional abuse
Any actions that provoke fear or reduce dignity or self-esteem.
Sexual violence
Any unwanted or forced sexual activity.
Religious/spiritual violence
Any tactic to exert power and control over a woman’s spirituality or religious practice.
Verbal abuse
Making negative comments that are inappropriate, embarrassing, offensive, intimidating, threatening or degrading to the woman.
Using children
Harming children or threatening to do so, abducting children in order to control a woman.
Using privilege or social status
Making actions or comments that suggest a woman is inferior because she comes from a different socio-economic background.
Environmental violence
Any tactic that makes a woman feel afraid in her environment.
The cycle of domestic violence
Assaults committed in a conjugal context are part of what is known as the “cycle of conjugal violence”. This cycle, which is set up and orchestrated by the abuser or partner, enables him to maintain his domination over his spouse. In an abusive relationship, this cycle repeats itself several times and accelerates over time.
PHASE 1: CLIMATE OF TENSION
The aggressor is angry, threatening the other person with his or her eyes, and imposing heavy silences.
The victim feels worried, tries to improve the climate, and is careful with her own words and actions.
PHASE 2: CRISIS
The aggressor violates the other person verbally, psychologically, physically, sexually or economically.
The victim feels humiliated, sad and that the situation is unfair.
PHASE 3: JUSTIFICATION
The aggressor finds excuses to justify his behavior.
The victim tries to understand his explanations, helps him to change, doubts his own perceptions and feels responsible for the situation.
PHASE4 : HONEYMOON
The aggressor asks for forgiveness, talks about therapy or suicide.
The victim gives him a chance, helps him, sees his efforts, changes her own habits.
Understanding the escalation of violence
In some relationships, violence may start with verbal insults and denigration, but it can also become physical. However, in most cases, the violence escalates over time, whether this escalation happens quickly or takes months or even years. No woman can predict how the situation will unfold.
The escalation continues when the control methods used by the abusive partner become ineffective.
Feminicide
Violence and aggression: physical and sexual
Verbal abuse
1
Psychological abuse
2
3
4