Violence against women: Causes and consequences

Violence against women is one of the most frequent human rights violations. It is a threat to women’s lives, it puts their physical and psychological health at risk, and it is a threat to the well-being of their children, with consequences for the whole community. The perpetrators can be found in every social and economic milieu, and the majority of them are male. The reason: In societies shaped by patriarchy, violence against women is an expression of unequal power relationships between men and women. So the causes of this violence are to be found not only at the individual level but also, and particularly, at the structural level. These causes need to be eliminated in order to prevent further violence. Gender justice cannot be established unless misogynist structures are resolved. Only then will women and girls be able to live a life free of violence.

This violence manifests in various ways: sexualised, physical, psychological, social and financial. Sexualised violence is one form of gender-based violence and an expression of discrimination. However, women are not only discriminated against in a sexist manner: they are also often subjected to additional forms of discrimination, such as racism, homophobia or ableism. The impacts of these interlock, reinforcing and changing each other.

‘Domestic’ or ‘family’ violence, also known as ‘intimate partner violence’, refers to any violence committed by people within close social relationships. This is an internationally recognised violation of human rights. The aim of this violence is to exercise control and power. Although the term ‘domestic’ might often refer to a house or household, the violence is often committed within the wider family or by a former partner.

In the majority of cases of partner violence, those carrying out the violence are male, and those affected are female (and frequently their children). Within partnerships, those affected by the violence are almost exclusively women. In terms of the number of killings of women because they are female (feminicide, or femicide), Germany is unfortunately one of the leaders in the EU.

Sexualised violence is always a way to exercise power, control someone, or oppress the other person. This takes the form of violent sexual actions which are not consensual. In other words, the emphasis is on ‘violence’, and this is sexualised: the primary aim is not sexual satisfaction.

In wars, one of the reasons sexualised violence is used against women is to humiliate the men on the opposing side. It is a gruesome, symbolic message with roots in patriarchal ways of thinking. In fact, part of the reason why sexualised wartime violence can be used with these impacts is because all sides in the conflict share this way of thinking. Worldwide, women and their bodies are still treated as the property of their husbands, fathers or families.

Psychological violence describes actions which lead to emotional and mental injuries of those affected. There are many aspects to this, including intimidation by means of looks, gestures or screaming and shouting. Other aspects include threats and coercion, such as the threat to take away a woman’s children or to commit physical violence against her. This violence can also take the form of derogatory, humiliating or discriminating comments, or public ridicule. Psychological violence is often accompanied by controlling or dominating behaviour, extreme jealousy, or the isolation of those affected. It is frequently committed within close relationships. Psychological violence can also occur online in the form of ‘cyber violence’.

Perpetrators of violence against women can be found in every society, nationality, religion and age group, with all levels of education or wealth. The majority of perpetrators across the world are male, and in the case of sexualised violence they are almost exclusively male. Most come from the close social environment of those affected. It is actually much rarer for a woman to be raped by a stranger at night in the park. The perpetrators bear sole individual responsibility for their actions and need to be brought to justice. It is, however, also relevant to recognise the structural causes of violence and to combat these.

Gender-based violence against women does not take place simply at the level of the individual, but is anchored in the cultural and institutional structures of societies. The interplay between discriminating behaviours at all three levels is referred to as ‘structural’ violence. Examples include discriminatory rules, laws, traditions and customs, as well as misogynistic language. These structures have both a conscious and subconscious influence on the way people think and behave. In turn, people who are socialised within these structures go on to preserve them, leading to a cycle which ensures that sexism and its expressions continue to exist, in turn perpetuating the violence against women that results from this sexism. Women can be affected by many forms of discrimination at the same time, including sexism, racism and ableism. These reinforce each other, increasing the risks of women experiencing violence.

The structural causes of violence against women include socialised gender roles with patriarchal roots, clichés about gender, and the resulting power relations. Whereas dominance, power and strength are seen to be masculine, qualities such as submissive, passive or indulgent are assigned to women. Even today these attributions lead to women being excluded from important political decision-making processes and offices. This lack of representation in relevant areas of society then leads to the needs of women being neglected and violence becoming established. Reflections of this can also be seen at the level of legislation: For example, according to the United Nations, only one quarter of all countries have laws relating to rape within marriage. It was only in 1997 that rape within marriage became illegal in Germany. Another example of structural violence is sexism at the workplace. This includes misogynist speech, significantly lower wages and salaries for the same work, and a much smaller proportion of women in positions of management.

Violence against women is always also violence against their children, even if these are not directly attacked. Just witnessing the violence, for example, can be enough to lead to sleep disturbances, developmental disorders, aggressiveness or anxiety. 
Furthermore, another very serious aspect that needs considering is the passing down of both violent behaviour and trauma to subsequent generations. Children who experience or witness violence and its consequences learn to accept this violence as a way to solve conflicts. Women who have experienced sexualised violence can pass on the traumatic experience to their children and grandchildren subconsciously as transgenerational trauma in the form of anxieties, stress and defensive responses. This can have an adverse effect on bonding within families.

Violence against women has far-reaching consequences for society. Transgenerational trauma, which can be handed down from survivors of sexualised violence to their children, negatively affects the psychological health of whole families. Particularly in the case of violence experienced collectively, such as sexualised wartime violence, the adverse effects can be felt by the whole social network for generations. Patriarchal structures, based on sexism and other forms of discrimination, directly create a climate of violence in which women do not feel safe to move around in public spaces or to fully live their lives. When women are restricted from accessing education or choosing their profession, a society is losing out on the potential contribution from half of its population. Furthermore, many women cannot help secure the livelihood of their family, or only in a minor way. Poor educational opportunities for girls and women then correlate directly with poverty, child and maternal mortality, and even the climate catastrophe.

The participation of women in many political and economic sectors is severely restricted because of the discrimination against them. This means society does not benefit from the potential of a large part of its population. Studies show that the extent of the participation of women has a direct influence on the stability of a state and on its economic success. Women who have been subjected to violence suffer more frequently from physical and psychological injuries, leading to their absence from the workplace, which reduces the productivity of companies and harms the national economy. Society also bears the costs of violence against women in the form of the costs for women’s safe houses, court cases, police work, and psychological or medical treatments. Furthermore: As is recognised in UN Resolution 1325, sexualised violence is both a serious obstacle to successful peace negotiations and also a threat to peace and stability in the long term. Peace agreements made without the participation of women or consideration of their needs cannot be sustainably successful.

Violence against women should not be treated as a personal issue, but rather as a societal problem that can and must be prevented. However, cases of gender-specific violence, such as femicide, often appear in the media or even court cases under the trivialising term ‘family drama’. This tendency in the use of language is part of the structural problem, making violence against women appear less harmful. It also does not clearly name the causes or those responsible. The state has an obligation to prevent violence against women. It is also obliged to provide protection and support for those affected and to pursue those who perpetrate these crimes. Unless there is an overall coherent government strategy that considers the causes of violence against women, there will be no development of measures that actually have an impact.

Training courses can be offered to staff in the healthcare and legal sectors to raise their awareness of violence against women. In particular, public information work, gender-equitable childcare and education, human rights education, and a zero-tolerance policy on violence are all measures which can prevent violence and help to counteract misogynist attitudes.

medica mondiale and our partner organisations raise public awareness of sexualised violence and educate people on the causes and consequences of violence against women. The general public and decision-makers such as politicians are called upon to deal with the issue of violence against women. Our aims include measures against sexualised and gender-based violence as well as discrimination-free assistance for survivors.

Our partner organisations provide integrated and long-term assistance to survivors of sexualised violence, adopting our Stress- and Trauma-sensitive Approach (STA). Examples of the support include medical and psychosocial counselling and legal assistance or income-generating measures. Our Bosnian partner organisation Budućnost organises horticultural and agricultural training for women and girls so they can secure their own living independently.

In Germany, medica mondiale advocates for the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and the Agenda “Women, Peace, Security“. We are demanding that the German government properly implements UN Resolution 1325 in order to ensure that women and girls in conflict areas are protected and have a chance to take part in peace processes. Our partner organisation in Afghanistan was working actively to ensure that the country’s Eliminate Violence Against Women (EVAW) Law was enforced, that family legislation was reformed, and that child and forced marriages were prohibited. In Kosovo, Medica Gjakova contributed to the efforts that led to the awarding of a monthly pension to women and girls who were raped during the Kosovo war.