"A universal problem of epidemic proportions"- Gender-Based Violence

[bloom]

Called "A universal problem of epidemic proportions" in a recent United Nations press release, the Council of Europe in 2002 declared gender violence a public health emergency, finding that such violence causes more ill health and deaths than traffic accidents and malaria combined. It even rivals cancer as a cause of death and incapacity among women aged 16 to 44.

Too often viewed here in America as something that, while horrific, only occurs in headline grabbing cases, gender-based violence is a severe global issue that is sadly overlooked as a minor crisis for only particular sets of women around the world. It is startling that, while attention is given to potential epidemics such as avian flu or other diseases, the deadly disease of gender violence is ignored as something that is viewed as a by-product of war, conflict or simply a "domestic issue" to be dealt with on an intrapersonal or community level. While community action is fine, it is time to realize that this is a bigger issue that claims a massive amount of lives, deaths that are absolutely preventable....

Gender violence is often intimately linked with other conflicts. Rape, mutilation and attack of women and girls are often used as a tool of war or are rampant in environment after conflicts.

"The magnitude of gender based violence is difficult to determine even in normal situations, and all the more difficult in disaster situations where barriers to reporting- fear of retribution, powerlessness, lack of support, breakdown of public services and the dispersion of families and communities - are greater," reported in the WHO in a recent report. Such violence can lead to other epidemics, such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well. In places such as war-torn Rwanda, two-thirds of the women attacked in the 1994 genocide are now infected with AIDS and are slowly dying.

The issue of gender violence should be seen not just as isolated incidents or a problem that women in individual communities should attack, but a global concern linked to broad social, health, justice and economic concerns.Indeed, the CDC estimated in 2003 that costs for gender violence "in the United States alone exceed $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion in direct medical and health care services and almost $1.8 billion in productivity loss." Consider the implications of factoring in issues such as the spread of AIDS that often results from gender violence globally, and we can recognize that this is an issue on par with any global health concern.

http://www.genderwatchers.org/NoAmericanNews.htm#8

[pmegan]

1. Pathologies of Power

Pathologies of Power, by Paul Farmer is a great book about the public health issues revolving around the structural violence against the very poor, primarily women.

[Angry Girl]

2. The problem exists in America too: The Abstinence movement....

Who gets stuck with the unwanted kids? The women. And please don't tell me that all women love having kids in their lives - it just ain't so!!!!

In clinical trials, a new vaccine was 100-percent successful in preventing the virus that causes most cervical cancer, the second-leading cancer killer of women in the world. Every year, some 10,000 American women are diagnosed with it and nearly 4,000 die.

<snip>
Henry Waxman found that two-thirds of the abstinence-only education programs are teaching the "right message" with the wrong science. Your tax dollars are at work — to the tune of a billion dollars — teaching students that touching another person's genitals "can result in pregnancy," that "there's no such thing as 'safe' or 'safer' sex" and that loneliness, embarrassment, substance abuse and personal disappointment "can be eliminated by being abstinent until marriage."

The lessons of abstinence-only — and we do mean only — expand from the classroom to the drugstore. Tuesday, the FDA yet again delayed putting Plan B emergency contraception on the shelves. One reason is the right wing's belief that young teenagers will get access to it. These "values conservatives" believe contrary to research that the morning-after pill will change the night-before behavior. Fear of pregnancy is almost as useful in their kit bag as fear of cancer.

What will happen when the government's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices considers adding the cervical cancer vaccine to the list of these given routinely to children? Will conservatives prevail over doctors and parents who want to add another layer of protection to the vows of abstinence? Medical science is now working on shots for gonorrhea and chlamydia. If we come up with a vaccine for AIDS, which do you choose: an abstinence pledge or a cure?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002616967_goodman11.html

I also find these DU threads to be relevant:

"They value your virginity more than your life"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5332824

F.D.A. Reports Reduced Risks With Condoms (Really???)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1918733

[Boomer]

3. But god forbid you bring this up in conversation

Based on some 50 years of experience, the climate still hasn't changed that much. Women who try to raise the issue of male predatory violence are dismissed as male-bashers, or riduculed, or taunted, or ignored, or -- as a final resort -- someone condescendingly questions whether the woman's "personal history of abuse" has distorted her perpective, whether or not she's actually been abused. As if being the target of male violence somehow renders one's arguments invalid.

Just last week I saw a typical example of how the news adroitly sidesteps this issue as well. Dateline had an hour-long program on pedophiles preying on children in the internet. Despite the fact that the overwhelming number of pedophiles are men, and that every single one of the people who fell for the Dateline sting were men, the reporter consistently referred to "people" who prey on children. Other than one quick throwaway reference to the rarity of women stalking kids on the internet, the issue of gender was never raised again.

Until people openly and honestly discuss the violence that is perpetrated upon women and children (and "weak" men, like homosexuals) by men, a solution to this issue is difficult to implement. There is a strong biological basis for this violence, and ignoring that origin because it's not political correct just means the problem will continue.

And whining "But I'm not like those men" doesn't offer any enlightenment either. No, not EVERY man is violent toward women and children, but the overwhelming majority of that violence IS perpetrated by men. We need to identify the trigger cues -- whether social or economic or psychological -- that set men off so that as a society we can work to remove or mitigate those influences.

[Angry Girl]

4. Well said.

URGENT! Timing is critical to save earthquake victims before winter!

[jkappy]

6. Agent goes un-named

Even in the piece at issue, it's called "gender-based violence," as if pertaining equally to both sexes.

To name "men" is almost tantamount to exile. True here on this board as much as anywhere else. Maybe more.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi jkappy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Boojatta]

12. Three Questions

Regarding the topic:

"Women who try to raise the issue of male predatory violence are dismissed as male-bashers, or ridiculed <...> No, not EVERY man is violent toward women and children, but the overwhelming majority of that violence IS perpetrated by men."

The title includes the words "Gender-Based Violence", but by definition "men" are not only male, but also adults. Is the topic not just the gender of the perpetrators, but also the age of the perpetrators?


Regarding implementing a solution:

"Until people openly and honestly discuss the violence <...> a solution to this issue is difficult to implement."

Before implementing a solution, isn't it necessary to design a solution?


Regarding the suggested solution:

"We need to identify the trigger cues -- whether social or economic or psychological -- that set men off so that as a society we can work to remove or mitigate those influences."

Other than the use of the word "men" in the phrase "that set men off", what is there in that proposed solution that reflects the gender and age issue?

[Kipling]

13. Male victims of domestic abuse are even more ignored.

The 20-40% of domestic abuse victims who are male may as well be invisible. In addition, you cite "biological reasons" that men are violent: but have you ever considered that men are conditioned from a very early age to believe that they are the violent sex? Toy soldiers, TV programs: everything drives home the message that you are the killing sex. Men are also portrayed as the victims of violence: it is acceptable slapstick for a woman to punch a man in a sitcom, but vice versa the same situations would seem disgustingly abusive.
Finally, you say that men are more abusive towards children: this is just factually wrong. Women commit the majority of child abuse. What are the "triggers" that set off their "biological urge" to abuse defenceless children?
There are none. Criminal behaviour is made by nurture, not nature.

[mongo]

5. One small thing

and something that personally gets to me is that the SC has said that a police department can't be held accountable for upholding restraining orders.

The police can't be everywhere at once, or prevent all crime, but there needs to be legislation to hold them accountable to some mimimun level of service in enforcing restraining orders.

The police should not be able to blow you off when you call. Period.

[omega minimo]

7. As above, so below

"Too often viewed here in America as something that, while horrific, only occurs in headline grabbing cases, gender-based violence is a severe global issue that is sadly overlooked as a minor crisis for only particular sets of women around the world.

"...the deadly disease of gender violence is ignored as something that is viewed as a by-product of war...."

"Gender violence is often intimately linked with other conflicts...often used as a tool of war or are rampant in environment after conflicts."

"The magnitude of gender based violence is difficult to determine even in normal situations, and all the more difficult in disaster situations where barriers to reporting- fear of retribution, powerlessness, lack of support, breakdown of public services and the dispersion of families and communities - are greater"


Wonder when this "public health emergency" will be addressed: "gender-based violence (as) a severe global issue = war. It is "intimately linked with other conflicts...often used as a tool of war..." It IS war.

:patriot:

[Triana]

9. It will be addressed when...

We have a Progressive Madame President...and not a moment sooner. It isn't a big problem for men. And men run this country. Until that changes, the issue, particularly as it relates to war and poverty, will be ignored because it doesn't affect them in large enough numbers whereas it is likely to affect most women at one time or another in their lives.

[omega minimo]

10. Unless those who care erect a higher profile for the issue

[bloom]

8. equalitynow.org

http://equalitynow.org/english/index.html


I noticed this site/org reports/encourages activism in regards to world-wide violence against women and girls.