International Violence Against Women

Peace Over Violence

Leona Smith, M.S.W.

Katie Virant, intern M.S.W. 2010

Points of Discussion….

Feminist Theory of violence against womenPerpetuation of violence against womenGlobal manifestations of violence against

womenThe myth of “Us” vs. “Them”How can we impact change?

Feminist Theory of Violence Against Women

• Inequality:• economic • political • social • religious

• Objectification

Perpetuation of Violence Against Women

• Media Messages

• Political and religious suppression

• Social norms and cultural beliefs

Media Messages

• Unhealthy relationship standards

• Unhealthy concepts of femininity

• Unhealthy concepts of female gender roles

Media Messages

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Media Messages cont.

Political and Religious Suppression

• Afghan Marriage Law passed March 2009• Based on religious fundamentalism• Quotes by Mohseni, a top Afghan cleric, supporting the law “Women and men are not equal in Afghanistan and shouldn't be

treated as equals” Referring to man’s role as breadwinner: “For all these expenses,

can't we at least give the right to a husband to demand sex from his wife after four nights?”

”…it is essential for the woman to submit to the man's sexual desire.”

“…it is the right of a man to ask for sex and she should make herself ready for it. This is the right of a man."

• Exceptions = wife is ill, would be harmed by intercourse, fasting for Ramadan, preparing for a pilgrimage, menstruating, or has just given birth

• Afghan marriage law can't be changed: cleric: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/04/11/mohseni-law.html

Social Norms and Cultural Beliefs

• Both influence, and are influenced by, political, social, economic, and religious inequalityGenital Mutilation in AfricaMyths of Rape Internationally

Myths of Rape InternationallyUNITED STATES

Denim Day Campaign

GREAT BRITIANTruth About Rape Campaign

• She was wearing tight jeans

(inspired from case in France)• She was asking for it (sexy clothes)• She was flirting online

(technology sex crimes)• She was his steady girlfriend

(intimate partner SA)• She was drunk and partying

(alcohol related rape)• He had it coming (male rape)• She was his wife (spousal rape)• I have to do everything for her

(elderly rape)• The intensity got to him

(military sexual violence)

• Only young attractive women get raped• Women who get raped were asking for it• Rape is a misunderstanding• Rape isn’t an everyday occurrence• Most women who report rape are lying• Men rape because they lose control•http://www.truthaboutrape.co.uk/4682/54973.html

•http://www.denimdayusa.org/

Manifestations of Violence Against Women

Global Accounts of Violence

Sexual Slavery in Taiwan & South Korea Tradition & Abuse in South Africa Abduction, Rape, Murder & Impunity in

Russia Exploiting Domestic Workers in Indonesia

• http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/international-violence-against-women-act/i-vawa-slide-show/page.do?id=1091586

Global Accounts of Violence Injustice and Violence in Turkey Abuse of Military Power in the Democratic

Republic of Congo Girl Soldiers in Liberia Trafficking Women in Kosovo Rape as Weapon of War in Chad• http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-

women/international-violence-against-women-act/slide-show-ii-international-violence-against-women/page.do?id=1091588

Understanding rape as a weapon of war: Darfur

• http://darfur.3cdn.net/77da04664a2f8ee291_mlbgcwar2.mov

Myth of “Us” vs. “Them”

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The Myth of “Us” vs “Them”: Are we really that different?

Amnesty International:

• In the U.S., a woman is raped every 6 minutes; a woman is battered every 15 seconds

• This year, more than 15,000 women will be sold into sexual slavery in China

• More than 7,000 women in India will be murdered by their families and in-laws in disputes over dowries

women = sex objects

* sexual slavery- comfort women in war- sex slaves out of war

Taiwan and South Korea

objectification- value in virginity

* rape and sex slavery in war- demoralizes oppositionby devaluing its women

- entertainment

Congo, Chad, Darfur

women 2nd class citizenswork of women devalued

* exploiting domestic workers- physical, psych, sexual

violence- no union, no workers rights

Indonesia

women 2nd class citizens- property to men- value in virginity

* Rape* Domestic violence

* Honor killings

Turkey

objectification- modern day slave trading

* Trafficking- farm work, sweatshops,

domestic servants,prostitution

Kosovo

women 2nd class citizens- property of men- value in virginity

* Rape* Domestic Violence

* Overt political inequality

Afghanistan

media: women = sex objects2nd class citizens

* Rape* Domestic Violence

* myths excuse abuse* rape kit backlog

United States

Common Beliefs Impacting Women Across Nationalities* political, social, economic, religious inequality

* objectification

*political: underrepresented* social: inequality/objectification

* economic: unequal $$* religion: patriarchal values

In Reality…

How Do We Impact change•Individual contributions

•Community contributions

•Neighborhood

•School

•Work

•Global

•Facebook

•Campaigns

Global Campaigns EVAW: End Violence Against Women International

www.evawintl.org

Education, MAD Project, Conferences, Donations

Amnesty International

www.amnestyusa.org/women/violence.html

Peace Over Violence www.peaceoverviolence.org