In What ways is it Present in Daily Life?
Do you think of battering when you hear the words “violence against women”? While physical violence is an important aspect of violence against women, this kind of violence also includes any visible and non-visible action that causes harm, pain or shame to a woman. Violence can exist within the family, at work, in school, on the streets, and can be present in the following ways:
* Physical. It generally occurs within the family, with battering, pulling of the hair, pinching, shoving, slapping, kicking and any other type of physical contact that intentionally harms the woman. Effects: fear, anxiety, distress, shame, isolation.
* Psychological. Commonly, before actual physical violence begins there may be yelling, jealousy, insults, threats, pretending the woman is non-existent or prohibition to study, work, use birth control, go out of house, socialise, see her family, etc. Effects: low self-esteem, isolation, sense of guilt, shame.
* Economic. This can include taking her salary, paying her less than men, denying her spending money. Effects: dependency, limitations.
* Patrimonial. Breaking valuable objects, deceitfully putting property under someone else’s name without the woman’s consent, etc. Effects: desperation, economic dependency, isolation.
Now that you know the most common types of violence against women, can you identify any acts of violence you may have committed against your wife, daughter, sister, mother, female friend, or girlfriend? Have you been a victim of any of these types of violence? If you answered YES to either of these two questions, I advise you to seek help at the Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres in México www.inmujeres.gob.mx/ at the Instituto de la Mujer (Institute for Women) in your state, or at the UN’s Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women www.unwomen.org/ We must all help. Violence against women is a social problem that can only be solved with everyone’s involvement.
You and I already know each other. I am Ana Luisa and I work at the Instituto de la Mujer in Querétaro, México. If you would like to share something with me, feel free to write me at info@atoctli.com and I will be glad to help you.
Ana Luisa P. Villaseñor
