Intersectionality Of Gender Based Violence ,Impact On Mental Health,Trauma Bonds,Cycle Of Abuse ,Gender Equality and Women’s Rights…

How do you define Gender-based violence (GBV) ?

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive global issue encompassing harmful acts perpetrated against an individual based on their gender or perceived gender, rooted in unequal power dynamics between genders . While it disproportionately affects women and girls, it can also impact other marginalized groups when used to enforce oppressive gender norms . GBV manifests in various forms, including physical, emotional, psychological, and economic abuse, as well as harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation .The definition of Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence directed at an individual due to their biological sex or gender identity, encompassing physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, and economic or educational deprivation, occurring in both public and private spheres .It is a global public health and human rights problem, with women being disproportionately victimized. GBV is not a singular event but a spectrum of abusive behaviors.

The most common forms include:

Physical Violence :

This involves any intentional and aggressive act causing or potentially causing bodily harm, such as hitting, slapping, pushing, burning, strangulation, or the use of weapons. The physical injuries are often the immediate focus, but the psychological scars can be profound .

Psychological or Emotional Violence:

This form of violence aims to undermine a person’s psychological integrity, self-esteem, and decision-making capacity. It includes behaviors like belittling, persistent verbal attacks, humiliation, shouting, threats, coercion, and controlling actions that isolate the victim from family and friends .

Economic Violence:

This involves controlling or depriving an individual of essential resources for personal development, such as money, property, or access to education, employment, or healthcare. It can create economic dependency, fostering feelings of helplessness .

Sociocultural Violence:

This refers to violence stemming from societal norms, beliefs, and cultural practices that perpetuate discriminatory attitudes, harmful stereotypes, and rigid gender roles. It often manifests as invisible barriers that prevent women from accessing fundamental rights and maintain their subordinate position.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV):

This is a particularly prevalent form of GBV, encompassing physical, assault, and psychological abuse by a current or former partner or spouse. It is recognized as a major contributor to the mental health gender gap .

Cyber-violence:

With the rise of digitalization, new forms of GBV have emerged, including cyberstalking, hacking, impersonation, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, and image-based sexual abuse. Younger women are disproportionately affected by cyber-violence, which can significantly lower self-esteem and exacerbate distress .

Hate-motivated violence against the LGBTI community:

This form of violence has significant and lasting consequences, leading to psychological

What according to you is the Impact of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on Mental Health ?

GBV has profound and lasting impacts on mental health, leading to a range of psychological consequences for survivors. Exposure to GBV, particularly when chronic or severe, can result in toxic stress, which is prolonged and extreme activation of the body’s stress response system . This toxic stress can dysregulate physiological systems, including the central nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, increasing the risk for various health problems .

Specific mental health outcomes associated with GBV include:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

GBV, as a form of toxic stress, can lead to chronic or prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, contributing to PTSD symptoms . Research indicates HPA axis dysregulation among women exposed to GBV and those with co-occurring PTSD, depression, and anxiety . Women are also more vulnerable to developing post-trauma symptoms and may take longer to recover .

Depression and Anxiety Disorders:

Women who have experienced intimate partner violence are almost twice as likely to experience depression and problem drinking . GBV can also lead to other anxiety disorders, sleep difficulties, eating disorders, and suicide attempts.

Emotional and Behavioral Disturbances:

Children who witness GBV often suffer from poor mental health, poor academic performance, and may internalize violence as a means of conflict resolution, potentially becoming perpetrators themselves.

Psychological Abuse:

Emotional or psychological violence, such as verbal abuse or confinement, is a significant component of GBV and contributes to mental distress .

Intersectionality:

The mental health impact of GBV is often exacerbated for marginalized women due to intersecting forms of discrimination and stress, such as those faced by immigrant women, women of color, or those with disabilities . Minority stress, stemming from membership in stigmatized social groups, adds another layer of psychological burden .The Council of the European Union recognizes the vital connection between gender equality and mental health, highlighting that gender-based disparities amplify mental health challenges for women and girls . Factors like workplace stress, economic vulnerability, barriers to mental healthcare, and the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work contribute to lower mental well-being among women.

What are Trauma Bonds and Cycle of Abuse associated with it ?

GBV often creates trauma bonds, which are unhealthy attachments that can form between an abuser and their victim, characterized by cycles of abuse followed by periods of remorse or positive reinforcement, making it difficult for the victim to leave the relationship . This dynamic is a key component of the cycle of abuse, which typically involves tension-building, an abusive incident, reconciliation, and a period of calm, before the cycle repeats . The unpredictability, uncontrollability, and long-lasting nature of GBV contribute to its classification as toxic stress, further entrenching these cycles . The lack of justice and economic opportunities can also perpetuate the cycle, as survivors may become dependent on their abusers.Trauma bonds in relationships affected by gender-based violence develop through a complex interplay of psychological manipulation, intermittent reinforcement, and the victim’s survival instincts, often leading to a powerful, yet paradoxical, emotional attachment to the abuser . This phenomenon is characterized by cycles of abuse interspersed with periods of affection or kindness, which can confuse the victim and make it difficult to leave the relationship.The development of trauma bonds can be understood through several key mechanisms such as a primary factor in trauma bond formation is the unpredictable alternation between abusive behavior and moments of warmth, kindness, or remorse from the abuser.These intermittent positive reinforcements, even if brief, create a powerful psychological reward system. The victim experiences intense emotional highs during these periods of reconciliation, which are often accompanied by the release of bonding hormones like oxytocin, making the attachment feel deeply consuming. This “push-pull” dynamic can lead victims to cling to the hope that the abuser will return to their “charming” self, making the abuse seem salvageable or even a test of their love .

How is Gender Equality and Women’s Rights interrelated ?

Gender inequality is a fundamental cause of GBV . Norms and beliefs that condone violence against women and girls perpetuate this issue. Addressing GBV requires a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes gender equality and upholds women’s rights . Key strategies include:

Empowering Women and Girls:

This involves keeping girls in school, empowering women economically, and providing safe spaces .

Challenging Harmful Norms:

Engaging male allies and promoting feminist approaches to tackle gender inequality are crucial .

Ensuring Access to Services:

Comprehensive GBV services, including healthcare, case management, and psychosocial support, are essential, especially in crisis settings.

Policy and Legislation:

Enacting and enforcing laws that promote gender equality and allocate resources to prevention and response are vital .

Economic Empowerment:

Addressing gender pay gaps and employment barriers enhances women’s financial independence, which can reduce vulnerability to abuse .

Trauma-Informed Care:

Providing specialized support for survivors of violence is critical for their recovery.

Community Mobilization:

Interventions that challenge unequal gender norms and promote relationships based on equality and consent can foster lasting change .

Organizations like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Women for Women International work to prevent GBV and support survivors by focusing on women’s rights education, engaging men as allies, and advocating for systemic change . The United Nations and the World Health Organization also play significant roles in defining, monitoring, and developing frameworks for preventing and responding to GBV globally .

In words of Mayaa “Trauma bonds are fundamentally about power, not love . Abusers strategically employ tactics to establish and maintain control over their victims. This can include isolating the victim from friends and family, creating financial dependence, or using threats and intimidation . The abuser may also exploit the victim’s vulnerabilities, such as past traumas or insecure attachment styles, to foster dependency. This systematic erosion of the victim’s autonomy leaves them feeling trapped and reliant on the abuser, further solidifying the bond .Comprehensive GBV services, including healthcare, case management, and psychosocial support, are essential, especially in crisis settings .Enacting and enforcing laws that promote gender equality and allocate resources to prevention and response are vital.Economic Empowerment is a must. Addressing gender pay gaps and employment barriers enhances women’s financial independence, which can reduce vulnerability to abuse.
Trauma-Informed Care inclusive of providing specialized support for survivors of violence is critical for their recovery..”