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By Tsungai Chekerwa-Machokoto
Gender based violence is quite an absorbing topic. Like gender, people have misconceptions about gender-based violence.
People stereotype gender as they think it is all about women and that gender-based violence is about men beating women. I would like to take this platform to demystify this phenomenon.
Gender-based violence includes physical, sexual and psychological violence such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, including rape and sexual abuse of children by family members; forced pregnancy and sexual slavery.
It also covers harmful traditional practices to women, using women as compensation for murder victims (ngozi), burning or acid throwing, female genital mutilation, dowry-related violence, armed conflict and emotional abuse, such as coercion and abusive language.
Trafficking of women and girls for prostitution, forced marriage, sexual harassment and intimidation at work are additional examples of violence against women.
The statistics around the topic of gender based violence are alarming and a serious cause for concern.
In Zimbabwe, issues to do with gender-based violence are mostly heard during the 16 days of activism, an international occasional commemorated from November 25 to December 10. Given the seriousness of the violence one then wonders whether gender based violence is an event or an actual danger in real life.
The seriousness of the gender based violence problem is quite apparent when we look at the female morbidity rates. Nations need to work on finding lasting solutions to ending gender-related violence daily.
The discussions, debates and engagements should go beyond the 16 days. Since gender is about the social justice of both women and men, this article will look at both sexes. Contrary to popular belief, men also face gender based violence at the hands of their wives or girlfriends.
Gender based violence is a painful reality and that is what it is, a reality. To address this issue it would be best to try and explore the root cause of the problem.
In my opinion, culture plays a huge part in perpetuating violence. Some abuse is tolerated in the name of culture and most of these oppressive cultural traits are actually not originally African, but that’s a discussion for another day.
In Zimbabwe, women make up over half of the total population (52 percent) and unfortunately many of them are vulnerable to abuse.
According to the 2011 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, one in four women reported that they had experienced sexual violence, and one in three women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
People usually question why the statistics on gender based violence are laced with women only.
If men also suffer abuses, why are they not captured in the statistical reports, people often wonder.
We live in a patriarchal society that is dominated by culture and the unspoken laws of culture dictate manhood to be preserved and respected as it is what defines a man.
Because of this assumption, men find it hard to report cases of abuse by a woman. It is really sad that men suffer in silence in this regard.
I was chatting with a colleague by the name Stewart about gender based violence and I asked him why it is hard for men to report domestic violence.
He said men are afraid to be laughed at. Steward said apparently even male police officers laugh at men who report abuse at the hands of their female friends or wives.
Another male colleague suggested that if there was a rule that men should report only to female police officers, maybe there would be more statistics on men.
It is interesting how the statistics on gender based violence are only a fraction of what actually goes on. Only a few women report violence to the police.
The rest report to church leaders and elderly relatives who advise them to brave it or forgive the partner and work things out for the sake of the children.
Needless to say, these formulas do not work and that is why the government has legislation that criminalises gender based violence.
If the reports are just ridiculed without first allowing the victims to claim the protection they deserve, then it defeats the whole purpose of seeking help.
Since there are laws that deal with issues of all forms of gender based violence, I would suggest that people in influential positions who receive violence reports direct the victims to police stations where they can get help.
Gender based violence is a criminal offence and should be reported to the police, not the pastor alone. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with reporting to the pastor, no.
I’m only saying the pastor should direct the matter to structures that deal with crimes, like the police.
The police will then advise the victim on what to do from there.
I am a Christian and I understand the principle of forgiveness. I am also in the legal fraternity and I witness the consequences of silence until abuse escalates to murder.
The Christian in me wants to see forgiveness and restoration thrive but the lawyer in me wants to see convictions and the exercise of justice.
It is usually difficult to save life when violence is experienced as a way of life; once one gets used to it, it becomes a challenge to gauge when a situation gets to dangerous levels.
Some people do not know that they are entangled in a cycle of abuse until it’s too late.
Gender based violence arises from social, cultural and religious practices that subordinate women. Yes men also face gender based violence in different forms but the majority of reported cases are about women being victims.
Gender based violence is perpetuated by cultures that view violence as a form of conflict resolution. Patriarchal social hierarchies that accept violence as a mode of social interaction are a huge problem in society.
There are different types of gender based violence. There is physical abuse which includes battering, sexual assault at home or at the workplace.
Psychological abuse which includes deprivation of liberty, forced marriage, sexual harassment at home or in the workplace.
The other form is the deprivation of resources needed for physical and psychological well-being including healthcare, nutrition, education and means of livelihood.
Treatment of women as commodities includes trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation. All these are forms of abuse that women and men should look out for and report.
It is up to us as citizens of Zimbabwe to take the spirit of 16 days of activism and carry it throughout the year.
The media can continue to publish awareness raising articles that constantly remind the nation on the critical consequences of abuse and how ordinary people can assist in doing away with gender based violence.
It is possible because it is up to us. We need to put a stop to the ripple effects of gender based violence.
The social learning theory states how children become what they see and the men who beat their wives and vice -versa do it because they grew up witnessing abuse in their homes themselves.
Gender based violence is a crime against humanity and should be nipped in the bud lest it corrodes our society from the very core, destroying families.
About the writer: Tsungai Chekerwa-Machokoto email: [email protected]
blog: tsungimachokoto.tumblr.com
Bongani Ndlovu