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Gender Equality and You
Gender equality is a broad notion of male/female relations but also is largely effected by domestic or family relations. Countless generations ago, females and children in many societies had no respect to their own rights; Unfortunately, in many ways, that is still true in societies today. In relation to Family Planning, the rights of women and children are an esential factor to the health of the family. Identification of factors attributing to inequalities must be addressed prior to and throughout the creation of a family. This page discusses issues related to inequalities and suggestions on how to handle them. For urgent unresolved needs, it is best to contact either a DPPA nurse or the hotline number noted at the end of this page. In the case of continuous and severe physical abuse, please contact your local authority immediately. |
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Domestic/Family Violence
What is domestic violence?
Victims of domestic violence are found among all male/female relationships, married or not. Domestic violence includes physical abuse, sexual violence, psychological and/or emotional abuse of a person by her/his mate, companion, or family member. It is a crime committed every 15 seconds, according to some estimates, with a woman and possibly her children being the most likely victims, most often in the one place where they should feel safe... at home.
How common is it?
Accurate statistics on the extent of this abuse are difficult to calculate since it is the most common unreported crime in families from all economic, social, cultural, religious and educational backgrounds. Sexual violence and emotional abuse, including threats, verbal insults, deprivation, harassment, etc., often accompany physical violence.
Why is it so common?
Many factors in modern life attribute to abuse perpetuation including:
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Outdated sexual roles and stereotypes
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Poor parenting and communication skills
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Physical abuse of children
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Past acceptance of partner abuse
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Poverty, lack of education, unemployment
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Lack of adequate spiritual development
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Physiological disorders
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Lack of outlet for frustration
What or who is a typical abuser?
Researchers have found that many abusers have the following characteristics:
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Have poor self-image. They feel unable to control their lives so they result to violence
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Feel a need for control. Violence becomes a way to gain power over a partner or child
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They witnessed abuse as children or were abused themselves. Learned abuse at an early age is perceived as a natural part of family life. As their parents abused them, they feel they must abuse their children and spouses also.
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Abuse of alcohol or other drug. Intoxication is often used as an excuse for losing self-control when loss of control was already a problem before becoming intoxicated.
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Poor communication skills. These people have trouble expressing their feelings and tend to put people down instead of building them up, thus causing emotional pain, as a form of self-defense.
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Feel intense jealousy, which often arises from low self-esteem. Usually a result of poor emotional maturity.
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Signs and Solutions
What is the link between abuse and Family Planning?
There is a major link between domestic, and particularly child, abuse and Family Planning. Teenagers and pre-teens are particularly vulnerable to influences by domestic violence. Abuse may lead children to unhealthy habits and poor, undeveloped moral and sexual maturity. As a domino effect, those children will pass on their lack of development to the next generation. Without intervention, problems will compound upon themselves with each generation, increasing the likelihood of teenage pregnancies and sexual diseases.
What are signs of child abuse?
- Unexplained injuries
- Repeated injuries such as bruises, welts, burns, especially in the shpae of an object (belt, buckle, cigarette, etc.)
- Abrasions or laceratioins appearing on the body for no apparent reason
- Small circular burns from cigarettes or cigars, often found on forearms, hands, buttocks, or soles of feet
Friction burns from rope, usually found on arms, legs, neck, or torso indicting that the child was bound
- Behavior which may be hyperactive, disruptive, aggressive, complacent, complaining, shy, withdrawn or otherwise to one extreme
What are signs of child neglect?
- Poorly nourished
- Inadequately clothed
- Consistantly tired or listless
- Inconsistant school attendance
- Poor hygiene or obsession with cleanliness
- Regularly left alone in dangerous situations or over long periods of time
- Exhibits evidence that medical needs are not being met
- Unable to related well to adults or has trouble forming close relationships
What can be done?
Today, numerous organizations are working to raise public awareness about domestic violence and yet there is much to be done to educate society toward prevention of this most devastating form of abuse.
The most effective measures must be done at home such as:
- Set an example for our children
- Adopt a no violence rule at home
- Resolve conflict by talking things over
- Get help if you, your partner, or children cannot resolve problems
- Thinking before reacting
Measures taken outside home include:
- Parents removing children from all scenes of ill behavior
- Supporting educational and prevention programs
- Letting public officials know how you feel
- Take personal responsibility by working against violence in your society
In regards to child abuse, prevention of violence can be done by:
- Not quarreling with children when angry
- Making an effort to say only good things at all times
- Constructive discipline rather than physical punishment or tongue lashing
- Continuously making an effort to improve parenting skills
- Identifying things that annoy us and learn to either avoid them or control or reactions
- Looking for the good in our children and praising them for those qualities
- Helping children to identify their weaknesses and developing ways to overcome them
- Being available when they need you and believing what they tell you
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