Sociology Essay: Exploring Gender Based Violence Dynamics

This essay provides a comprehensive sociological analysis of gender-based violence (GBV), defining it as a violation of human rights rooted in gender inequality. It explores various forms of GBV, including intimate partner violence, traditional practices, and sexual assault, highlighting the impact on both women and men. The essay delves into the drivers of GBV, such as inequitable power dynamics and societal norms, and examines the concept through a gender lens, including violence against marginalized populations. It critically analyzes the advantages and limitations of the GBV concept, emphasizing the need for international strategies to eliminate gender-based violence and promote human rights. The essay also offers recommendations for addressing GBV and supporting victims, irrespective of gender, advocating for a holistic approach to combatting this pervasive issue. This essay offers a critical analysis of gender based violence and the sociological impact on society and human rights.

Running Head : Essay
Essay – Sociology
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................5
Common forms of gender based violence.......................................................................................5
Drivers of gender based violence....................................................................................................7
The concept of gender based violence – through gender lens.........................................................8
Critical analysis.............................................................................................................................10
Advantages of the concept of gender based violence....................................................................10
Limitations of the concept of gender based violence....................................................................12
Recommendation...........................................................................................................................14
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................17

Introduction
‘Gender based violence’ might be termed as the phenomenon which is deeply rooted
within the concept of gender inequality and has continued to be among the most notable
violation regarding human rights within societies throughout the entire world (Morrison and
Orlando 2004). The concept related to ‘gender based violence’ is inclusive of violence which is
directed against and individual due to their sex or gender. According to the reports by UNESCO,
both the gender experiences ‘gender based violence’ while the majority of the victims are
targeted to be girls and women as per the current statistics. According to Davies and True (2015),
the concept of ‘gender based violence’ (GBV) can be considered as an umbrella phrase that is
commonly being used for referring towards violence among individuals which majorly stems
from differential of power among the survivor and the perpetrator. As per the ‘Inter-Agency
Standing Committee Guidelines For Integrating Gender Based Violence Interventions In
Humanitarian Actions’, UNESCO defines ‘Gender Violence Concept’ concept as any of
detrimental action which is being executed against a person’s will and which is dependable on
differences that are socially described among genders (Freedman 2016). While being agreed over
the ‘Declaration Over The Elimination Of Violence Against Women’ in the year 1993, the
concept regarding ‘gender based violence’ targeting women population is inclusive of actions
which inflict mental, physical or sexual harm and suffering followed by threats, coercion and
some of the other deprivations of Liberty while according within the public or private life. As
stated by Jakobsen (2014) ,the issue of gender based violence is not only a devastating factor
among the survivors of violence and their families but also show in tails some of the significant
economic and social cost. Failure towards addressing this genius crime for the mode entails cost
for the future of the victims. Several studies have highlighted that children growing up

witnessing gender-based violence are more likely to become survivors themselves or purpose
traitors of the violence in the near future. One of the fundamental characteristics related to
concept of ‘gender based violence’ includes facts that it involves zero economic and social
boundaries and effects both the gender from all socio-economic backgrounds among both
developing and developed countries throughout the globe.
However the statistics collected from the recent reports highlighted violence against
women as one of the factor in the growing tied off alarm within the concept related to ‘gender
based violence’ throughout the entire world (Fleming et al. 2015). The brutality against the
female population are often used as interchangeable term with the concept related to ‘gender
based violence’ since most of the studies have acknowledged women or girls to be the major
number of victims who are being inflicted and tortured by men (Lombardo and Rolandsen
Agustín 2016). The aspect of gender based violence is an essential factor highlighting the fact
that several forms of violence or torture against women are being rooted within the concept of
power inequalities among both the gender within the society. Forms of women brutality within
the concept of ‘gender based violence’ includes female genital mutilation, intimate partner
violence, cyber violence against female gender, rape, sexual violence and many more.
Nevertheless, this will highlight over the idea of ‘Gender Based Violence’ from a broader
perspective by shedding light over the violence on both the gender belonging from several
communities within both the developed and developing countries throughout the globe (Powell
and Henry 2014). The thesis statement of this essay aims to critically explain the advantages over
the emerging notion of ‘Gender Based Violence’ which are instigating the international agencies
to target the challenges and introduce strategies to eliminate violence that are gender based. The
essay will also discuss certain limitations related to the idea of gender based violence followed

by the recommended steps which needs to be taken for the victims of ‘Gender Based Violence’
irrespective of the gender.
Discussion
Common forms of Gender Based Violence
Within the term ‘Gender Based Violence’, there lies some specific forms of brutality
which are commonly being seen among populations within both the developed and the
developing countries (Fuentes, Nicolau and García 2016). The existing categories of gender
based violence which is required for understanding and take a note by the practitioners as well as
the researchers in in this field includes the following.
Intimate partner violence
This is one of the most prevalent and existing categories of ‘gender based violence’ targeting
violence against female. Intimate partner violence includes physical, sexual as well as emotional
abuse and possessive behaviours by intimate partner or men. GBV happens in all settings within
most of the social economic and cultural communities throughout the globe. According to Casey
et al. (2018), the overwhelming international burden of intimate partner violence is born by
women. All the reports have gathered regarding women being violent in relationship with men
due to their Self-defence and also treats of violence among similar gender partnerships, the
common victim of violence in this setting includes women by their partners of opposite sex. Men
are likely to undergo brutal actions by any acquaintances other than intimate partners.
Traditional practices

These reflects the believes and the values which are detained by the community members within
the generation span . It is to note that societal group within the globe has their specific practises
related to culture and believes within the tradition, some are beneficial while other are injurious,
specifically targeting women population. According to Tappis et al. (2016), the traditional beliefs
and practices like ‘female genital mutilation’, early marriage, forced feeding among women, girl
sacrifice are among the several taboos targeting gender based violence. Furthermore degrading
status of girl child, son preferences, nutritional taboos, dowry e and female infanticide are some
of the harmful practices in blind towards the tradition which forms a major part of gender based
violence specifically targeting women population. As stated by Akhter and Kusakabe (2014) in
his research paper, irrespective of the injurious nature and the violation of ‘Human Rights Laws’
and operation, these harmful believes still persist in the name of tradition within the society.
Non partner sexual assault
These are forceful and sexual assaults by strangers, or individual apart from partner or husband.
Often termed as rape, non-partner sexual assaults have been marked as the most dreadful gender
based violence among women population throughout the globe
Gender trafficking
According to the Article 3 of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress And Punish Trafficking In
Person, human trafficking by the means of transportation, recruitment or by the means of threat
or any other force, coercion, fraud or abduction due to the purpose of exploitation falls under the
category of violence (Silove et al. 2017).
According to the ‘Inter-Agency Gender Based Violence Information Management
System’, there are six core categories of gender based violence. These types includes

Sexual assault - Categories of non-consensual contact that is sexual, that is not inclusive of
penetration can be termed as sexual assault. Some of the example includes unwanted fondling,
kissing, touching of buttocks and genitals and rape attempts.
Rape – these are non-consensual forcefulness of penetration with the genitals of the perpetrator
for any kind of object.
Physical assault -this includes the action of physical violence which is not sexual in nature. Visa
or curd both among women and men and includes slapping, hitting, burning, acid attacks or any
use of weapon object causing or resulting pain and discomfort as well as injury to the victim with
an intention.
Emotional abuse - these psychological abuses are the implication off emotional injury and pain.
Some of the finest example includes intermediation, threats of violence, forced isolation,
humiliation, harassment, stalking and destruction of things.
Resource denial - the denial of opportunities for services or towards the rightful access towards
economic resources or assets are another form of ‘Gender Based Violence’ (Umubyeyi et al.
2016). Some of the example includes prevention of women from using contraceptives,
preventing girl child from education, forcible snatching of money by intimate partner.
Forced marriages – forced marriages which are often linked to rape and sexual abuses are the
union or marriage of an individual against his or her will as per the directions of the family
member targeting a traditional practice among the developing countries of the world.
Drivers of Gender Based Violence
The root cause related to ‘gender based violence’ within the non conflict and conflict
setting is there in equitable power dynamics and the gender norms of the patriarchal society.

These components might be aggravated within the settings of conflict, where the fundamental
societal mechanism breakdown leads to the rise in the rate of brutality (Watson 2016).
Nevertheless the ‘active conflict of dynamics’ which included the usage of rape as a conflict and
war weapon can also impact the rates of gender based violence within these time frame.
Several studies consider factors for instigator of ‘gender based violence’ by the help of an
“ecological model” which describes the possibility towards the experience of violence being the
interaction of several factors that ranges from societal level to individual level. According to
Mukanangana et al. (2014), these factors of violence rises at the societal level where inequitable
norms of gender and conflicts of arm at the fundamental drivers of gender based violence.
Factors such as increased criminality, breakdown of the rule of law, impunity for perforators as
well as the lack of social support tends to affect the rate of gender based violence (Women, U.N.
2017). These factors also influences the dynamics of relationships by increasing the controlling
behaviour of partners which eventually increases gender-based violence. Nevertheless factors
such as poverty, educational attainment, age furthermore effects the chances of GBV.
The Concept Of Gender Based Violence – through gender lens
The ides of ‘gender based violence’ can be defined as the violation of human rights.
While the majority of the violence targets over the conceptualization of violence against girls and
women, the concept of GBV furthermore refers to some of the other forms of the violence
specifically perpetrated against the male population as well as the members of marginalised
population belonging from the community group. According to Walby, Towers and Francis
(2014) violence against boys and men falls under the category of the forms of violence
highlighting the gender dimension in the form of physical and sexual violence committed having
an explicit purpose of the rain force mint off in equitable norms of masculinity within the gender.

Violence against male population is best over the societal constructed ideas regarding the
exercise of male power (Mootz, Stabb and Mollen 2017). These are used by men to cause harm
to other males and these instances are often being not reported for the stigmas and taboos
associated with the norms of masculinity within the society.
‘Gender based violence’, the concept has also be used by several researchers for
describing the violence which are perpetrated against marginalised population like gay, lesbian,
transgender and bisexual intersex persons (Davies and True 2015). These violence against the
population are driven by the desire for punishing and define the gender norms.
It is important to note that this is a will highlight over the importance and the advantages
of the rapid emergence of the concept of gender violence that has targeted and boosted up several
international organisation and institutes working towards human rights to come up with new
methods and strategies for fighting against the perpetrators of violence together with eliminating
the concept of gender based violence, thus promoting human rights and the achievement towards
the common goal of peace (Lundgren and Amin 2015). While ‘Gender-based violence’ has been
denoted as among the considerable challenges in peaceful and stable communities through out
the world, these often rises in the time of conflict era. Female population adds at the peak of risks
regarding violence during conflict and humanitarian crisis in case of displacement, lack of
enforcement of law, breakage of the social structures, potential entrenchment regarding the
gender norms as well as the loss of chances regarding livelihood of the gender within the
community.
Conflict related gender based violence is assumed towards referring only e to a sexual
violence among several research studies. Open cases have found armed actors to use violence or
sexual assault as the major weapon of the conflict or war (Vu et al. 2014). However there lies

very limited evidence in connection to the prevalence of violence, based on gender at the conflict
affected settings.
Major health effects of Gender Based Violence
According to research study by Lundgren and Amin (2015), ‘gender based violence’ is
closely connected with grading and negative outcomes of health among both men and women.
Apart from the injuries which might be fatal, the victims experiencing gender-based violence
tends to be at higher risk of negative reproductive and sexual health outcomes. Victims at 50%
more likely to be diagonalized with syphilis or HIV then other people and they also faces the
challenge of unplanned and an intended pregnancy, lower date of birth weight of babies,
complications during pregnancy and induced abortion specifically among women. Due to the
result of stress and prolonged fear, the victims of ‘gender based violence’ are also likely to form
depression, somatic disorders and substance use disorders while initiating towards attempt of
suicide (Casey et al. 2017). The burden of challenges and disability due to gender based violence
leaves several victims towards seeking health services enforcing and additional strain over their
health system.
Critical analysis
Advantages of the concept of gender based violence
Gender can be referred as the socially constructed relation among men and women as
well as attributes, activities and behaviour towards which each and every individual is expected
to adhere. The differences of gender are determined as well as rain forced by ethnic, cultural as
well as economic factors (Hilhorst, Porter and Gordon 2018). This section will highlight the
potential advantages of the concept of gender based violence which has been a much debated

umbrella phrase for any injurious action and activity which is directed against the will of a
person. The major focus of the advantage highlights over the socially ascribed differences among
both the genders, thus aiming to shed light over the particular concept of ‘gender based violence’
and its potential effects over the victims (Watson 2016). One of the major advantage regarding
the rise and the popularity of the concept of gender based violence is that more people are now
getting aware regarding GBV and are initiating to raise voice against the violence which are
targeted and biased over specific gender (Davies and True 2015). Another advantage of
controlling the concept of gender based violence is that several international organisations and
non-government institutes working towards in alienable human rights and laws can now extend
their voice towards the development of policies as well as legal enforcement against the
perpetrators of the gender based violence.
They can now for the more initiate in the development of preventive actions within
interpersonal and individual level for the victims of violence so that these victims can lead a
peaceful living. The development and enforcement of the factors of prevention of gender based
violence can be regarded as one of the main advantage towards the growing and debatable
concept of gender based violence throughout globe (Decker et al. 2015). Prevention of GBV
includes more than symbol alternation of the behaviours of perpetrators. According to the
suggestive evidences, some of the most effective approaches that has been proposed till date by
the international organisations and UNESCO are gender transformative which reaches beyond
the behaviours and the attitudes of individuals involved in the violence (Levola et al. 2014).
These includes both the survivors and the perpetrators for challenging the harmful societal norms
as well as towards the promotion of the status of women within the society. The review of 2015
intervention regarding the evidence over gender based violence instigated and shook out some of

the most effective programs like working with the entire communities, specifically the man by
the means of meaningful conversation as well as efforts of mobilisation which will help the
individual (Chakraborty et al. 2017). The emerging concept of gender based violence has further
more raised concern among the humanitarian agencies who are initiating to promote gender
transformative approaches and effective intervention of facilitating discussion among both the
genders for the promotion of effective understanding of the experiences of the victims as well as
towards improved interactions within the society (Women, U.N. 2017). In short, the emerging
concept of gender based violence, though has been one of the major topic of debate throughout
the globe, has facilitated to ignite the flame of protest among several international and
humanitarian agencies towards the basic human rights of the victims of violence as well as
strategic measures towards the aftermath of violence regarding the health condition of the
victims (Casey et al. 2018). These has been some of the major advantages regarding the concept
of gender based violence.
Limitations of the Concept of Gender Based Violence
Gender based violence can be undoubtedly explained as well as noted as one of the most
common forms of violence throughout the globe. It has been one of the most widespread but
again the least recognised human right challenges and abuse in the world (Davies and True
2015). Both men and women are victims and are subjected to gender based violence specifically
if they are being perceived to be behaving outside the social norms that has been prescribed.
Some of the limitations of concept of gender based violence includes prolonged mental
and physical challenges together with reduced capability towards the maintenance of economic
security among the victims of violence (Powell and Henry 2014). The impact and the limitation
of this specific global epidemic is far reaching in nature. As per the data collected from the