Drivers of Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) is shaped by personal, social, and structural factors across individual, community, and institutional levels (Heise, 1998). While these factors increase risks, not everyone exposed will experience or commit violence. Understanding these drivers is key to prevention.

Individual Factors

Gender-based violence can be influenced by individual factors such as personal attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and knowledge. Perpetrators often exploit these factors to maintain control or harm others. For instance:

• Personal Attitudes and Beliefs: Exploiting biases or low self-esteem to manipulate or degrade the victim.

• “He constantly told me, ‘As a woman, you’re lucky I’m even with you,’ making me feel worthless and unable to leave, even when he hurt me."

• Behavioral Traits: Taking advantage of tendencies like trustfulness or submissiveness.

• "She knew I was expected to avoid confrontation as a man, so she kept making public scenes to embarrass me and undermine my role as a ‘provider.’"

• Knowledge and Skills: Manipulating a victim's lack of awareness about their rights or resources.

• "He told me there was no one who could help me, and I believed him because I didn’t know my legal rights."

• Identity and Personal Characteristics: Using stereotypes or societal expectations to justify abuse.

• “Sinabihan niya ako ng ‘Masyado kang emosyonal kasi babae ka,’ upang bale-walain ang mga reklamo ko tungkol sa kanyang pagkontrol."

• Biological Traits: Exploiting physical or mental health vulnerabilities.

• "Alam niyang buntis ako at mahina, kaya ginamit niya ito upang pigilan akong magtrabaho o lumabas, sinasabing ito ay para sa ‘aking kaligtasan.’"

• Life Experiences: Preying on past trauma or insecurities to exert control.

• "Sinabi niya, ‘Walang magmamahal sa isang solong ina tulad mo,’ kaya naramdaman kong wala akong pagpipilian kundi manatili."

Interpersonal factors

This is often regarded to as the micro-interactional level that becomes an everyday violence

• Kind of Relationship: GBV can occur in various types of relationships, including family, friendship, romantic, professional, or even with strangers.

• "He used his position as my boss to coerce me into staying late at work, making inappropriate comments and advances."

• Set-Up: Family structures such as nuclear, single-parent, extended, same-sex, queer, or blended families can influence dynamics of abuse.

• "In our extended family, I was told to tolerate my uncle's inappropriate behavior because ‘he is family.’"

• Situation: Conflict situations such as marital disputes, parent-child disagreements, or separation often create environments for GBV.

• "During our separation, he started stalking me, saying he had the right to know where I was at all times."

• Parenting Style: Authoritarian or neglectful parenting can create vulnerabilities for children to experience or witness GBV.

• "My father’s strict and punitive discipline normalized physical violence as part of family life."

• Family Dynamics: Dysfunctional family dynamics, such as favoritism or scapegoating, can perpetuate GBV.

• "My siblings would side with my abusive partner, saying I deserved the treatment because I was ‘too outspoken.’"

• Religious Interpretations: Misinterpretations of religious texts or beliefs can justify abusive practices.

• "He told me, ‘It’s your duty as a wife to obey me,’ and used religion to silence my objections to his control."

Community and Institution

Community and institutional factors operate at a broader level, often shaping environments that increase the risk of abuse or perpetuate GBV.

• University, College, Classroom: Educational spaces can fail to address GBV by normalizing harassment or silencing victims.

• "My professors ignored the bullying and harassment I faced in the classroom, making me feel powerless to report it."

• Workplace or Organization: Lack of policies or enforcement against harassment can foster abusive behaviors.

• "At work, management overlooked inappropriate jokes and actions from my colleagues, leaving me feeling unsafe and ashamed."

• Neighborhood or Society: Cultural norms or social pressures in a community can perpetuate GBV.

• "In my neighborhood, people said that a husband hitting his wife is normal, which discouraged me from seeking help."

• Support Groups: When support systems fail to recognize or address GBV, they can contribute to further harm.

• "In my faith-based group, I was told to stay quiet and pray instead of reporting and leaving my abusive partner."

Systems and Structures

Structural and cultural factors create systems that influence and perpetuate GBV at a societal level. Below are brief discussions and examples:

• Laws, Policy & Legal Framework: Gaps in protective laws or weak enforcement can perpetuate GBV.

• "The lack of a clear anti-harassment policy in the workplace allowed my supervisor to continue inappropriate behavior without consequences."

• Culture: Cultural norms that prioritize male dominance can reinforce GBV.

• "In our community, women are discouraged from speaking out against abuse because it is seen as bringing shame to the family."

• Historical Factors (Colonization): Historical events, such as colonization, have left legacies of systemic inequality and violence.

• "Colonial practices taught people to treat women as inferior, and these beliefs still exist in some traditions today."

• Practices: Harmful traditional or social practices can perpetuate GBV.

• "Dowry-related violence continues in some communities, where women are punished for not meeting family expectations."

• Physical Structure: The design of public spaces can contribute to GBV by failing to ensure safety.

• "The poorly lit streets in my neighborhood make it unsafe for women to walk alone at night."

• "The female toilets in our office are located in an isolated corner of the building, making them a frequent site for harassment."

• "As a student, I feel exposed and unsafe using the floating metal stairs in our school. People below can easily look through the gaps, invading my privacy, especially when I wear skirts or dresses. It’s uncomfortable and makes me avoid using those stairs whenever possible."

• Social Systems & Norms: Inequitable systems and norms often reinforce GBV.

• "In some workplaces, women are expected to handle caregiving roles in addition to their job responsibilities, which perpetuates gender inequality."

• Masculinity and Femininity Constructs: Stereotypical gender roles contribute to power imbalances.

• "My professor told us, ‘A real man doesn’t show weakness,’ and used this to justify his controlling and aggressive behavior."

To read and understand more about these acts of gender-based violence, you may access this:

GBV Prevention & Response Materials