What is gender-based violence?

Gender-based violence is a chosen action on a woman simply because she is a woman. Violence and the threat of violence is a fear that is experienced by every woman - irrespective of age, skin colour, religion, economic or social status.

Some examples:

• Alleged rapists are of younger ages
• 17 youth gang rape a 16-year old Form Four student
• Female youths are targeted for rape and brutal murder, e.g., schoolgirl, Nurul Hanis Kamil, schoolgirl Audrey Melissa and 15 year old Rosnani Daud
• Increased number of reported cases of rape against children of 'tender age', e.g the rape and brutal murder of 5-year old Siti Nadira Budah in 2001
• Young girls and women raped by people In position of trust, e.g by a bomoh, medical doctor, religious teacher or when held under police custody

Who are the perpetrators?

They are mainly men who can be strangers, or a family member like her own father, husband, brother or uncle. It can be someone she knows intimately, like her boyfriend, or someone she trusts, like a friend or a colleague.

Why does it happen?

We have to understand that women and men are socialised differently. For example, men are taught from young to be aggressive, not to cry or show their emotions, independent and to be a provider/protector. On the other hand, women are taught to be weak, demure, submissive, caring, dependent and self sacrificing. This different socialisation is rooted in the gender discourses of masculinity and femininity (prescribed norms and definitions of what it means to be a man or a woman). As a result, men and women are positioned unequally and discriminated against vis- a -vis one another, and with other groups of men and women.

From MAN.V, Man's Action Network Against Violence