Republic of the Philippines

NORTHERN ILOILO POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

AJUY CAMPUS
Ajuy, Iloilo

Instructional Module in GE EL 11 NC

Gender & Society with Peace Education

Second Semester

Mary Patricia Alcantara-Basinang, J.D.

Instructor

MODULE 4

Gender-Based Violence

I. Introduction

This module will help us understand the concept of Gender-Based Violence

or GBV. Violence does not only mean physical harm but rather it extends to other
forms such as, psychological, economic and sexual abuse. A lot people around the
world are victims of GBV. The most common issues on GBV are violence against
women due to their vulnerabilities. But GBV is more than just violence against
women. Hence, we will discuss various instances and cases of GBV that are
prevalent in our society taking into consideration all genders.

II. Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the learners must have:

1. Understood the definition of gender-based violence (GBV), other related terms,

and its forms and consequences;
2. Understood GBV as a human rights issue;
3. Identified the relationship between abuse of power and GBV;
4. Understood the term “violence” in GBV; and
 5. Understood the meaning of “informed consent” and its relation to GBV.

III. Learning Content

Gender based violence (GBV) is violence targeted at individuals or groups

on the basis of their gender. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a serious violation of

human rights and a life-threatening health and protection issue. It is one of the widest

spread and human rights abuses, but least recognize in the world. It refers to any

harm perpetrated against a person’s will on the basis of gender, the socially ascribed

differences between males and females.

GBV has devastating consequences not only for victims, but also for society

as a whole. It results in physical, sexual and psychological harm to both men and

women and includes any form of violence or abuse that targets men or women on the

basis of their sex. It cuts across public and private spheres, including: home, school,

and work, and takes place during peacetime and conflict. It is both human rights and

development issue, with negative consequences for both women and men.

Two Categories of Gender-Based Violence:

1. Interpersonal Violence

It refers to an act of economic, sexual, psychological or other violence perpetrated by

an individual against another individual.

2. Structural or Institutional Violence

It refers to ‘any form of structural inequality or institutional discrimination that

maintains a person in a subordinate position, whether physical or ideological, to other

people within her family, household or community’. Structural violence is “where

violence is built into structures, such as family, household, community, workplace or

academe and it appears as unequal power relations and, consequently, results in

unequal opportunities.
WHAT ARE THE FORMS OF Gender-Based Violence?

• Violence against women

Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in,

physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women. The most common

example on violence against women is rape. Rape is having carnal knowledge or

sexual intercourse to a woman without her consent. In some instance, there is still

rape even if sexual predators invoke the presence of consent and that is called

statutory rape, where victims are children 12years and below.

• Violence against LGBT people.

It is possible for people of all genders to be subject to GBV. For example,

GBV is often experienced by people who are seen as not conforming to their

assigned gender roles, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or intersex

people. The infamous case of Jennifer Laude vs Joseph Pemberton is deemed as a

hate crime involving a trans woman who was killed by a US marine corps in

Olongapo City last 2014 is the best example of Violence against LGBT people.

• Intimate partner violence (IPV)

Includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and controlling behaviors by a

current or former intimate partner or spouse, and can occur in heterosexual or same-

sex couples. Women are more susceptible to intimate partner violence because of

physiological difference. But in some instance, men can be victims of IPV as well.

However, it is less common to hear this scenario because of social stigma. But IPV in

women is also the same with men. It can be in the form of physical, emotional, or

economic violence

• Sexual violence (SV)

 “Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments

or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality

using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any

setting, including but not limited to home and work.” Oftentimes, we hear sexual

violence against women and young girls. But researchers have found that at least 1

in 6 men have experienced sexual abuse or assault, whether in childhood or as

adults. The record is low but still it is existing.

 Spiritual Violence

It is a form of violence that uses religion or spirituality to discredit, harm, or

disempower the victim. It happens when powerful religious leaders use supposedly

religious ideologies to control and rule over their victims which are usually women

and children. Part of this violence involves sexual abuse such as when women are

called to be sacrificed as virgins to the leaders. These acts are forms of rape and

sexual molestation often seen in cults that abuse and exploit their members. While

one may argue that anything spiritual is an issue of godliness and religion, it must be

noted that it is often cultural tradition that enforces negative perceptions concerning

women and their abilities.

 Reproductive or medical Abuse

Women may be forced to get pregnant, use contraceptives, or undergo

abortions. Another form of violence is withholding of information about safe

pregnancy, contraceptives and childbirth. Medical abuse can happen on women,

such as they are coerced to undergo ligation, or forced to undergo C-section when

the pregnant woman is willing and able to go through natural birthing method. In this

form of GBV, women are likely to be victims because of their physiological state and

sex stereotypes.
 Economic Abuse

It is the deprivation of financial independence. This form of abuse can be

realized through explicit acts such as denying the victim the right to use property or

materials that are legally theirs, destroying their things, solely controlling their money

or property, or threatening to deprive them of their financial support. More subtle

forms of economic abuse involve the removal of support from one’s partner.

 Psychological Abuse

This involves causing harm to a victim through the use of emotional

manipulation, resulting in mental suffering. Some forms of psychological violence

include constant putting down of a person, diminishing their value because of

socially-constructed role, or judging how a person acts or what they do.

Consequences of Gender-Based Violence

These consequences include serious, immediate and long-term impacts on

the sexual, physical and psychological health of survivors. Health consequences

include unwanted pregnancies, complications from unsafe abortions, sexually

transmitted infections including HIV, injuries, mental health and psychosocial effects

(depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, suicide and death). Violence also affects

children’s survival, development, and school participation.

Social consequences extend to families and communities. Families can also

be stigmatized as a consequence of gender-based violence. For example, when

children are born following a rape, or if family members choose to stand by a

survivor, fellow members of the community may avoid them.

 Economic consequences include the cost of public health and social welfare

systems and reduced ability of many survivors to participate in social and economic

life.

Survivor, Victim, and Perpetrator

Survivor is the preferred term (not victim) of a person who has lived through

an incident of GBV. A perpetrator is a person, group or organization that inflicts,

supports or condones violence or other abuse against a person or group of persons.

Characteristics of perpetrators include:

1. persons with real or perceived power;

2. person in decision-making positions; and

3. persons in authority

In all incidents of GBV, there is always a survivor/victim and perpetrator.

Therefore, all actions in the prevention and response to GBV need to address both

the survivor and the perpetrator.

Perpetrators can have real or perceived power. Some examples of different

types of power and powerful people are the following:

a. social- peer pressure, bullying leader, teacher, parents;

b. economic- the perpetrator controls money or access to

goods/services/money/favors; sometimes the husband or the father

c. political- elected leaders, discriminatory laws

 d. physical- strength, size, use of weapons, controlling access or security;

soldiers, police, robbers, gangs;

e. age-related – often, the young and elderly people have the least power.

Power is directly related to choice. The more power one has, there are more

choices available. The less power one has, fewer choices are available.

Unempowered people have fewer choices and are therefore, more vulnerable to

abuse. GBV involves the abuse of power. Unequal power relationships are exploited

or abused.

Force might be physical, emotional, social, or economic in nature. It may also

involve coercion or pressure. Force also includes intimidation, threats, persecution,

or other forms of psychological or social pressure. The target of such violence is

compelled to behave as expected or to do what is being requested, for fear of real

and harmful consequences.

Violence consists of the use of physical force or other means of coercion

such as threat, inducement, or promise of a benefit to obtain something from a

weaker or more vulnerable person. Using violence involves forcing someone to do

something against his/her will- use of force.

Consent means saying “yes” or agreeing to something. Informed consent

means making an informed choice freely and voluntarily by persons in an equal

power relationship. Acts of GBV occur without informed consent. Even if she says

“yes” this is not true consent because it was said under duress- the perpetrator(s)

used some kind of force to get her to say yes.

Cycle of Violence

The cycle of violence refers to repeated acts of violence in a relationship. It

starts with minor incidents and moves on to more serious levels of violence. The
 cycle of violence may start in a child who is a victim or witness to violence and may

be repeated when the child becomes an adult.

The impact of being a victim or a witness to violence on a child is traumatic. It

can make a child scared, unhappy, lonely, lose self-confidence, blame themselves,

lose sleep and pick-up fights with peers. Children should understand that having

conflicts is alright, but resolving conflict through violence is not right. When children

understand that violence is not acceptable, they will grow up into adults who respect

other people.

IV. Enrichment Activity

Make a written report regarding GBV that happened recently, discuss the
impact of this GBV on its victims, and give possible solution or aide to the victim.
(at least one whole page of yellow pad)

V. References

a. Peralta, Eric Paul, et.al. (2019). Gender and Society: A Human Ecological
Approach. Philippine Copyright 2019 by Rex Book Store, Inc.

b. Rodriguez, Agustin Martin & Rodriguez, Ara Marie Leal, (2019). Gender and
Society: The Whys of Women, Their Oppressions, and Paths to
Liberation. C & E Publishing, Inc.