MODULE 1

GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE
 OBJECTIVES

1
Demonstrate understanding on gender-based violence and the issues
surrounding it

2
Identify consequences of gender-based violence using the self-society-
system worldview.
3 Demonstrate legal knowledge on gender-based violence.
 LESSON 1

WHAT IS GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE?
WHAT IS GENDER BASED-VIOLENCE?

VIOLENCE
Intentional use of physical force or power (threatened or actual) against
oneself, another person or a group/community (WHO, 2019).
WHAT IS GENDER BASED-VIOLENCE?

GENDER VIOLENCE
Gender violence is a pervasive and serious issue that the World Health Organization has deemed a
global health problem. It is motivated by a desire to humiliate and subordinate individuals or groups
and is underpinned by power imbalances. Gender-based violence is often enabled by societal
structures, norms, and values, and can occur in both public and private spheres. Women are
disproportionately affected by this kind of violence.
WHAT IS GENDER BASED-VIOLENCE?

UNDUNDERSTAND THAT GENDER CONSTRUCT IS SYSTEMATIC

MACRO

UNDERSTANT OUR INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS CONSISTENT WITH GENDER NORMS

MESO

UNDERSTAND OUR OWN PERCEPTION OF GENDER ROLES AND NORMS

MICRO
 TYPES OF GBV

1 PHYSICAL 1 SEXUAL

1 VERBAL

1 SOCIOECONOIC 1 PSYCHOLOGICAL
 PHYSICAL

Physical violence is any act that aims to inflict pain or other

physical harm or that actually does so. As with all forms of
violence, the primary intent of the perpetrator is not just to inflict
bodily harm, though this may not always be the case, but also to
restrict the other person's right to self-determination. This
includes beating, burning, kicking, punching, biting, maiming or
killing, or the use of objects or weapons (Council of Europe,
2022).
 VERBAL
Verbal violence can include issues that are particular to a
person, such as insults (in private or in front of others),
ridicule, the use of profanity that is especially upsetting to
the other, disparaging remarks about the other's family
members, and threats of other forms of violence, either
against the victim or against someone close to them.
Other instances, the victim's background, such as their
religion, culture, language, (perceived) sexual orientation,
or customs, may be important to the verbal abuse.
 SOCIOECONOMIC
Socioeconomic violence can increase a victim's
susceptibility to other types of violence and even provide
as justification for the use of such violence. Taking away
of the victim's earnings, denial of their ability to earn a
separate income (by designating them as housewives or
forcing them to work for free in the family business), or
targeted physical abuse that renders them physically unfit
for employment are common examples of socio-economic
violence (Council of Europe, 2022).
 SEXUAL
Sexual :violence performing nonconsensual vaginal, anal, or
oral penetration on another person while using any body part or
object; engaging in other nonconsensual sexual acts with a
person; or instigating another person to perform non-consensual
sexual acts with a third party. Sexual violence includes attempted
rape and marital rape. Forced dangerous sex, forced
masturbation in front of others, forced unsafe sex, sexual
harassment, and abuse including reproduction are some
examples of forced sexual behaviors (e.g. forced pregnancy,
forced abortion, forced sterilisation, female genital mutilation)
(Council of Europe, 2022).
 PSYCHOLOGICAL
Psychological Violence refers to threatening behaviour that
lacks verbal or physical components, such as actions that
allude to previous acts of violence or deliberate
ignorance and disregard of another person. In addition,
there are some types of violence that use tactics that fall
outside of other categories and might be said to produce
psychological violence in its most "pure" form. Included
in this are seclusion or incarceration, information
withholding, misinformation, and threatening behavior
(Council of Europe, 2022).
 EMPATHY MAPPING
1
Inday is a college student who is unmotivated to go to school
because she experienced gender-based violence.

Please use your imagination on this one. Guide questions

include:
○ Who is Inday? How old is she? Where is her hometown?
○ What will she say to you if given an opportunity?
○ What does she thinks about? ○ What does she do?
○ What does she feel?
 LESSON 2

CAUSES OF GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE?
 CAUSES OF GBV

1 CULTURAL

1 LEGAL

1 ECONOMIC

1 POLITICAL
 CAUSES OF GBV
1 Contributing Factors:

○ A perpetrator’s sense of power, control, and entitlement.

Perpetrators use force and violence to manipulate the victim.
Furthermore, the victim is to be treated with contempt and
disrespect out of a sense of entitlement (Rutgers University,
2022).
○ Alcohol and other drugs. Although the perpetrator of a
violent act is accountable, alcohol and other drugs lower
inhibitions and impair judgment. According to some studies,
some offenders are more likely to engage in sexual assault
when they are impaired by alcohol or another drug (Rutgers
University, 2022).
○ Victim-blaming ideas. The idea that a victim in some manner
"called for it" because of how they act, look, or live (Rutgers
University, 2022)
 CAUSAL AND
CONTRIBUTING
FACTORS
1
○ What are the probable causes of GBV
based on the experience of Inday?
○ What are the contributing factors based on
the experience of Inday?
 LESSON 3

EFFECTS OF GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE?
 EFFECTS OF GBV

1 PERSONAL

1 SOCIETAL 1 SYSTEMIC
1 PERSONAL

○ Physical effects. Acute physical issues like fractures, bleeding, and persistent physical diseases including
gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and chronic discomfort (United Nations, 2010).
○ Mental health conditions. Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are the most common
mental health conditions a survivor of gender-based violence would most likely experience (United Nations, 2010).
○ Sexual and reproductive health problems. Risks to maternal and fetal health (particularly in cases of abuse
during pregnancy); sexual dysfunction; unintended/unwanted pregnancies; unsafe abortion; sexually transmitted
infections (including HIV); and other chronic disorders can be experienced by survivors of gender-based violence
(United Nations, 2010).
○ Loss of earnings. Lost workdays, decreased output in the workplace, and decreased income can be experienced
by those who experience gender-based violence (United Nations, 2010). It is challenging to estimate the cost of
GBV regarding human suffering and economic indicators because of its hidden nature, which makes determining
prevalence challenging (ICRW, n.d.).
○ Increased healthcare costs. Spending on medical care, safety, legal counsel, and social assistance can
significantly negatively impact a victim of gender-based abuse (United Nations, 2010).
1 SOCIETAL EFFECTS

At the societal level, work can be disrupted due to lower productivity, lost
workdays, leading to reduced economic output and growth (ICRW, n.d.). Thus,
affecting other workers in the same company. Furthermore, the unpleasant
experiences of individuals around gender violence victims may be transmitted
and amplified by the way they vent their emotions on their children and other
people. On the other hand, children could learn to embrace violence as a
substitute for other forms of dispute resolution and communication. These are
the means by which violence is bred and maintained (Stop VAW, n.d.).
1 SYSTEMIC

○ Drains public budgets. For survivors, businesses, and the public sector, violence against
women has significant direct and indirect costs in the form of medical, police, legal, and related
expenses as well as missed earnings and productivity. For example, Intimate partner violence is
estimated to cost the US$5.8 billion annually and the Canadian $1.16 billion (United Nations,
2010).
○ Sexual violence deprives individuals of education. Girls' educational prospects and successes
are hampered by violence at school. In a study conducted in Ethiopia, 23% of girls said they had
been sexually assaulted or raped while traveling to or from school (United Nations, 2010).
○ Violence harms reproductive, maternal and child health. Women's ability to exercise their
right to procreate is severely restricted by gender-based violence, which has detrimental effects
on both sexual and reproductive health. Up to 1 in 4 pregnant women will experience physical or
sexual abuse. Premature labor and low birth weight are also more likely as a result, as are
stillbirth,abortion, and miscarriage (United Nations, 2010)
 LESSON 4

HOW CAN WE PROTECT

THEM?
 1987 CONSTITUTION
THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES ALL FILIPINOS'
HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION. ONE OF ITS IMPORTANT CLAUSES IS
ARTICLE II. THE STATE "RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF
WOMEN IN NATION BUILDING AND SHALL MAINTAIN THE
FUNDAMENTAL EQUALITY OF WOMEN AND MEN BEFORE THE
LAW," ACCORDING TO SECTION 14 OF THE CONSTITUTION.
ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT
ACT OF 1995

UNWELCOME SEXUAL APPROACHES, DEMANDS FOR SEXUAL

FAVORS, AND ANY VERBAL OR PHYSICAL ACTS OF A SEXUAL
CHARACTER THAT OCCUR DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN A WORK
ENVIRONMENT, AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING, OR A TRAINING
ENVIRONMENT ARE ALL PROHIBITED BY LAW. SEXUAL
HARASSMENT IS ABOUT ABUSING POWER RELATIONS —
LEVERAGING ONE’S INFLUENCE TO EXTRACT SEXUAL FAVORS.
ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
ACT OF 2003

THE LAW DEFINES TRAFFICKING IN PERSON IN TERMS OF THE

ACTS, MEANS AND PURPOSES OF TRAFFICKING. THE VICTIM OF
TRAFFICKING SHOULD RECEIVE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT
SERVICES FROM THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE VICTIMS.
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO OFFER
SERVICES TO TRAFFICKED INDIVIDUALS AT THE LOCAL,
NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS FOR THEIR QUICK
REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION.
 ANTI-RAPE LAW OF 1997

RAPE IS CONSIDERED A CRIME AGAINST PERSONS UNDER THE

LAW, RATHER THAN A PRIVATE OFFENSE. IT ACKNOWLEDGES
MARITAL RAPE AND CASTS DOUBT ON THE IDEA OF SEXUAL
DUTY IN MARRIAGE. ADDITIONALLY, IT STATES THAT RAPE CAN
OCCUR EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO PENETRATION AND THAT THE
USE OF OBJECTS DURING SEXUAL ASSAULT IS LIKEWISE
REGARDED AS RAPE. THE BILL ALSO TOUGHENED THE
PUNISHMENTS FOR RAPE.
ANTI-MAIL ORDER BRIDE LAW

THE LAW DECLARES IT ILLEGAL TO PAIR UP FOREIGNERS WITH

FILIPINO MAIL-ORDER BRIDES. THE PRACTICE OF INTRODUCING
FILIPINO WOMEN TO FOREIGNERS FOR MARRIAGE THROUGH
PERSONAL INTRODUCTIONS, PUBLICATION, PRINTING, OR
DISTRIBUTION OF BROCHURES AND FLYERS, MEMBERSHIP IN
ORGANIZATIONS THAT FACILITATE SUCH INTRODUCTIONS, AND
USE OF THE POSTAL SERVICE ARE ALL PUNISHABLE.
ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND
THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF 2004

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN IS CLASSIFIED AS

A PUBLIC OFFENCE BY THE LAW. THROUGH THE USE OF BARANGAY,
TEMPORARY, OR PERMANENT PROTECTION ORDERS, IT ENSURES THE
SAFETY OF THE WOMAN-COMPLAINANT AND HER CHILDREN. THE
REQUIRED PROTECTION AND SUPPORT FOR VAWC VICTIMS IS ALSO
IDENTIFIED, ALONG WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF BARANGAY
OFFICIALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, COURT EMPLOYEES,
SOCIAL WELFARE AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AND THE LGUS.
 SAFE SPACES ACT OF 2018

MEN AND WOMEN MUST HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO RIGHTS, SECURITY,

AND SAFETY NOT ONLY IN PRIVATE SPACES BUT ALSO IN PUBLIC
SETTINGS, ONLINE, AT WORK, AND IN HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS. THIS LAW SPECIFIES WHAT CONSTITUTES GENDER-
BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN PUBLIC AREAS, ONLINE, AT WORK,
AND IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Catcalling ○ Wolf-whistling ○ Unwanted invitations ○ Misogynistic,
transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs ○ Persistent uninvited
comments or gestures on their appearance ○ Relentless requests for
personal information ○ Statements of sexual comments and suggestions
○ Public masturbation or flashing of private parts ○ Groping ○ Any
verbal or physical advances

● Furthermore, these acts are prohibited in the following spaces: ○

Alleys, roads, sidewalks and parks ○ Restaurants and cafes, bars and
clubs, resorts and water parks, hotels and casinos, cinemas, malls,
buildings ○ Public utility vehicles ○ Online spaces
 ACT. 3: LAWS AND
POLICIES
○ Which laws are relevant to the case of
Inday?
1
○ What other laws or policies about GBV
should be implemented?
● Based on your work, how can you help
Inday?
● What policies do you think you can
participate in lobbying?