Gender-Based Violence Resource Centre

Root Causes & The Importance of Equity

Violence Against Women and Gender-Based Violence are tied to patriarchy and gender inequality. It happens to women, girls and non-binary people from all walks of life.

Other systemic root causes put some groups at increased risk, including Indigenous women, racialized women, migrant women, rural women, women living with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons and more.

There is no ‘quick fix’ to gender-based violence, as a result, it’s been a pandemic for centuries. To end gender-based violence, we must zoom out and address societal power imbalances and inequities.

What are the root causes of gender-based violence?

Patriarchy

Patriarchy is the present-day social system wherein men hold power, and women or feminine-presenting people are seen as subordinate and inferior. Misogyny, rape culture, unhealthy masculinity and rigid gender norms are all results of patriarchal views and attitudes.

Colonialism

Control by one power over a dependent area/people. Colonialism in Canada may be best understood as Indigenous Peoples’ forced disconnection from land, culture, and community by another group. (www.criaw-icref.ca)

Visit the VIOLENCE AGAINST INDIGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS AND 2SLGBTQQIA+ PEOPLES page created by Aura Freedom, in partnership with Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto to learn more about the impact of colonialism across Indigenous communities

Systemic Racism

The ways that white supremacy becomes embedded in policies/processes of an institution, resulting in a system that advantages white people and disadvantages BIPOC, notably in employment, education, justice, and social participation. (vpfo.ubc.ca)

Homophobia and Transphobia

Fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-binary, or others who don’t confine themselves to traditional gender norms.

Ableism

Discrimination of people with disabilities based on the belief that they are inferior.

Classism

Differential treatment based on societal class or perceived social class.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a term (created by Black scholar Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw) describes the ways in which aspects of our identities (gender, race, religion, class, location, ability, etc.) and life experiences overlap to create discrimination, and disadvantage.

It allows us to understand how a person, a group of people, or a social issue (such as gender-based violence) is affected by different factors that exist in an unhealthy, co-dependent relationship – such as racism, sexism, colonialism, homophobia, and more..

While all women can experience violence, it is important to understand how systemic oppressions and intersecting factors make certain women, especially at risk. It also allows us to recognize how different marginalized women are affected differently by gender-based violence.

For example, a Black woman who experiences domestic violence not only experiences violence at the hands of her partner, but may also experience discrimination when she tries to rent an apartment or access counselling or Police support- this results in difficulty to leave the violent situation.

Being INTERSECTIONAL means that when addressing gender-based violence, we must recognize the most marginalized women, including Indigenous women, women of colour, immigrant and refugee women, women living with disabilities, gender-diverse people, and others. People who identify as trans, non-binary and Two-Spirit also experience high rates of violence and may experience systemic barriers when trying to access services and support.

Gender-based violence is a result of extreme inequities that intersect with different identities.

By being intersectional, we acknowledge and recognize that addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and advancing equity is the key to ending gender-based violence for everyone.

Misogyny & Misogynoir

Misogyny is an extreme form of sexism often defined as the hatred of women. It is present in many environments/institutions, and deeply connected to violence against women & femicide.

Misogynoir is anti-Black misogyny that specifically targets Black women and is prevalent in pop culture, government institutions, social service agencies, and the medical field.

Misogynoir is a term first coined by Black feminist Moya Bailey, that defines the experience of being treated with hate, prejudice, and discrimination specifically because:

You are a woman.
You are Black.

Under misogynoir, a person experiences sexism and racism simultaneously. It is not only hurtful and offensive, but it’s also harmful. Bailey says that such attitudes toward Black women may be linked to “poor health, social, and economic outcomes.”

For example, it can manifest in the rates of criminalized Black women, the rates of Black children in foster care, the over-incarceration of Black women, and more.

When addressing violence against women, it’s crucial to be intersectional and recognize marginalized women to ensure that our efforts to end the violence works to advance equity and empowerment for all women.

Rape Culture

Rape Culture is an environment (or society) where rape is common and sexual violence and harassment against women are normalized and excused in families, communities, and the media.

Rape Culture is maintained by:

Misogynistic language & homophobia
Objectifying women’s bodies
Sexualizing girls from a young age
Impunity enjoyed by rapists
Unhealthy gender expectations
Victim Blaming

In Rape Culture, survivors are scrutinized, blamed and criticized, instead of those accused of committing the sexual violence. It affects us all and creates a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.

Most women and girls limit their behaviour because of rape, and they live in fear of rape. This cycle of fear is the legacy of Rape Culture.

A few ways to end Rape Culture:

Dispelling harmful gender norms,
Promoting healthy masculinity,
Ending victim blaming,
Advancing gender equity,
Understanding trauma

Gender Roles & Masculinity

Unhealthy masculinity is a cornerstone of rape culture, gender norms, and the negative hypersexualization of women, especially racialized women.

It supports rape culture, nurtures violence within men, and refuses to acknowledge their humanity and compassion. It is the strict adherence to hegemonic masculine norms – aggression, dominance, bullying, harassment, homo/transphobia, and promotion of violence, including sexual violence.

Patriarchy upholds rigid and unhealthy gender norms that tell men (and women) how to act in societies that further perpetuates unhealthy masculinity. This results in trauma in men and boys as it hinders them from exploring healthy masculinity, contributes to mental health issues, encourages misogyny, homophobia, and it is also directly linked to violence against women and girls.

Men and boys have a huge role in ending Rape Culture and sexual violence. Healthy masculinity is one of the keys to ending male violence against women and feminine-presenting people.

Women & Girls With Disabilities and Gender-Based Violence

In Canada, women and girls living with disabilities are at a high risk of violence, such as neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, sex trafficking, and more.

These forms of violence may be perpetrated by their family members, their partners, and even their caregivers and healthcare providers.(Source: DisAbled Women’s Network)

According to the DisAbled Women’s Network, violence against women and girls with disabilities is not simply a type of gender-based violence, but an intersectional category dealing with gender-based and disability-based violence.

The intersection of gender, ability, race, social class, and more results in an especially high-risk of violence against women and girls living with disabilities in Canada and globally.

For women living with disabilities, the risk of violence increases when:

They are racialized
They are Indigenous
They are younger
They identify as LGBTQ2S+
They are migrant workers
They live in rural/remote areas
They are immigrants/newcomers