Gender violence is a social scourge that persists despite the fact that in recent years it seems that the visibility and awareness of it in the population has increased. In addition, it is alarming that young people are normalized and that there is an increasing number of cases related to this type of violence in this age group. Therefore, it is essential to prevent gender violence from all sectors of the population.
In this Psychology-Online article about how to prevent gender violence We address the keys to preventing this violence.
According to the United Nations definition, gender violence is conceptualized as:
Any act of gender violence that results, or may result in physical, sexual or psychological harm to the woman, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether they occur in public life or in the private.
Gender violence is, therefore, the violence against women for the simple fact of being a woman. In addition, it is not limited to the context of couple relationships, but it occurs in different areas of life, such as political, social, work, etc.
To address the prevention of gender-based violence, first, we will briefly explain the causes of this violence.
The root of gender violence is the patriarchal society, which is the social, political and economic structure that is based on the idea of superiority and domination of men over women. Therefore, sexist violence is a mechanism that seeks to reproduce and maintain the satus quo of power relations of male domination in society.
The same patriarchal system assigns attributes, roles and spaces depending on whether you are a man or a woman. Based on this assignment, a differentiated socialization, in which the messages and teachings to men and women are different and are based on the prevailing gender models in society. This socialization shapes our way of behaving, thinking and feeling.
The prevention of gender violence is based on the need to eradicate this type of violence, seeking measures and developing actions that prevent the appearance of gender violence. But how can we prevent gender violence? In the following sections, keys to the prevention of this violence are addressed from different spheres or contexts.
The key to eradicating gender-based violence is found in socialization and education based on equality throughout the entire life cycle of the person, with special incidence in childhood and adolescence so that models based on respect and equality are developed from an early age. That is why schools become one of the vitally important socializing agents in coeducation or education in gender equality.
- It is necessary to work with the students with a gender transversal perspectiveIt is not enough only to sensitize and raise awareness about this problem on specific dates or days such as March 8 or November 25.
- With the students, critical analysis and deconstruction of gender stereotypes and roles, always adapting to the age of the class, as well as the development of skills for its detection, rejection and construction of identity based on other healthy and egalitarian models.
- Likewise, to prevent gender-based violence in adolescents, it is important in classroom training regarding signal detection and indicators of this violence, so that students become an element of prevention and elimination of gender violence both inside and outside the classroom.
- On the other hand, promote Emotional education from schools with the aim of promoting the development of prosocial values such as empathyAs well as non-violent conflict resolution from childhood, it also facilitates gender prevention.
- Not only the students, if not the entire educational center in a comprehensive manner must be involved in the fight and prevention of this violence. The school itself should be an example of promoting equality and fighting against this violence, which is why it is essential to teacher training as positive references in gender matters. Both teachers and educational personnel should be sensitized and made aware of gender equality, review their own attitudes and beliefs and develop tools to address and prevent gender violence among the student body. This training favors the early detection of cases of violence, the prevention of it in the classroom and the promotion of values of respect and equality, as well as the effective application of a protocol of action in situations of gender violence in the center.
- Finally, it is important to review of educational materials school (books, songs, movies, etc.) to detect if they promote stereotypes and roles sexist, as well as the generation of new materials with a gender perspective and that promote equality.
In the following article, we address the topic of Adolescents and gender violence.
Apart from the school and family environment, it is vitally important to involve the rest of the population and work from all sectors of society to prevent gender violence.
- A basic condition for this objective is an in-depth study about gender violence, its roots and the mechanisms through which it operates, since in order to effectively prevent any phenomenon, it is necessary know it globally. This knowledge will allow the development of prevention actions based on theory and specifically directed to the problem of gender violence.
- On the other hand, the rest of society must be informed about what this violence is and what types of violence it encompasses. Likewise, we must educate ourselves on the idea that this violence does not only occur in the sphere of the couple, but in many others. In this way, through the information and knowledge Early detection of cases of violence and involvement from all sectors is favored, the general population also becoming an active agent against this violence.
- The prevention and awareness campaigns they should put the focus of responsibility on the aggressor and not the victim, reinforce the idea of responsibility on the part of the rest of society and underline the importance of the involvement and action of the population regarding the prevention of this violence.
- The media, leisure and culture should not promote roles, gender stereotypes or sexist messages, if not show alternative models that serve as a reference, especially for childhood and youth.
- Likewise, we must end the permissiveness and tolerance of society with certain forms of gender violence, such as stereotypical representations of women, images of women as sexual objects, jokes that humiliate women, etc. For this, the entire society must be aware of and committed to the fight against gender violence.
- The promotion of effective laws and policy measures in terms of gender violence and a real application of them. It is necessary that people belonging to the political and judicial field have knowledge specific in the matter of gender violence to guarantee the effectiveness of the political measures and laws.
- Apart from the legal and political field, it is important to train gender at work in general and, above all, from the social and health sectors.
- Finally, you have to actively engage men and boys in the awareness, participation and fight against gender violence. This commitment includes social non-tolerance for any type of violence against women. And, on the other hand, empower women, as active subjects, with a voice and with decision-making power in the approach against gender violence.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
