Gender Policy Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gender Policy Review - Essay Example Violence against women and girls is a prevalent and systematic infringement of elementary human rights and a pervasive form of gender-based discrimination (United Nations 2006, p.7). Statistics indicate that one in every three women has suffered the wrath of violence; physically, sexually, or some other way- most prevalently by someone she knows, inclusive of the intimate partner or another male family member. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) takes diverse forms and comprises of such acts as physical, psychological, sexual, and emotional abuse. Every day, worldwide, women confront gender-based discrimination including acts such as genital mutilation, forced prostitution, sexual slavery, and domestic violence. The analysis of oppression of women demands analysis of conditioning and socialization of individuals as the nature of economic and social utilization influences the phenomenon of violence against women (Heise 1994, p.8). In fact, women with disabilities remain predispose d to experience violence compared to other women and girls. Violence against women is degrading, humiliating, and belittling. Violence against women mainly provokes fear and insecurity, especially among the subjects and curtails women from leading independent lives (United Nations 2006, 28). Violence against women also increases their vulnerability and dependence. ... It is frequently argued that state and civil society institutions must recognize and accept responsibility for female subordination and desist from encouraging acts of violence against women. While the certain forms of violence against women (such as rape) can be regarded as widespread, other forms of abuse against women are specific to certain regions or countries (Leicht and Jenkins 2010, p.280). Thus, policy makers must understand the processes that propel women violence if those policies were to be effective. One of the historical power relations blamed for propagating violence against women encompass economic and social forces that propel exploitation of female labour and the female body. Economically disadvantaged women are highly susceptible to sexual harassment, trafficking, and sexual slavery. Furthermore, the denial of women economic power and economic independence is a significant cause of violence against women and lengthens their vulnerability and dependence. Within the family institution, historical power relations often play out (Leicht and Jenkins 2010, p.284). The family is a critical source of positive fostering and caring of values, and also plays out as a social institution where labour is exploited, and male sexual power is aggressively expressed. The family also sums up as a place where socialization that frequently disempowers women frequently features. In certain cases, familial expectations may camouflage or yield negative images of self that constrain the ability of women to realize their full potential (Leicht and Jenkins 2010, p.286). Gender- based violence can be regarded as flowing from the failure of governments and society to honour and protect the human rights of women; thus, policy makers