What is Violence Against Woman/WomAn Abuse?
Violence Against Woman is any act of gender-based violence that can result in the actual or threatened physical, psychological, sexual, financial, verbal, or spiritual abuse of another person. This can include a man or woman with whom a survivor has, or has had an intimate, familial or romantic relationship. VAW can also occur outside of any familiar relationship such as violence perpetrated by a stranger. (VAW, also referred to as Woman Abuse and a number of other terms, is believed by many feminists to be more accurately encompassed by the term Gender-Based Violence.)
One in three Canadian women have experienced violence at the hands of a current or past intimate partner or other family member or abuser, since the age of 16 (Statistics Canada).
VAW is a serious and widespread societal problem. Women of all ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, socio-economic classes, faiths, abilities, and professions can experience abuse. Rooted in the social, economic and political inequality of women, the underlying causes of abuse are related to imbalances of power and control between the victim and the offender.
Women who have experienced abuse are likely to be impacted in all aspects of their lives – emotionally, physically, psychologically, spiritually, socially, and financially. It may affect work and intimate relationships. Some women may face additional obstacles and barriers related to childcare, housing, poverty and racism, as well as language barriers, isolation, immigration policies, fear of the legal system, and lack of experience accessing or navigating through social services and other systems.
Every person has the right to live without fear. If you are experiencing abuse, you may wish to explore safety-planning and other steps you can take to try to keep yourself and your children safe. Remember that you are not alone and that help is available.
The same rights pertain to all survivors of violence, regardless of gender identity or of sexual orientation.
One in three Canadian women have experienced violence at the hands of a current or past intimate partner or other family member or abuser, since the age of 16 (Statistics Canada).
VAW is a serious and widespread societal problem. Women of all ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, socio-economic classes, faiths, abilities, and professions can experience abuse. Rooted in the social, economic and political inequality of women, the underlying causes of abuse are related to imbalances of power and control between the victim and the offender.
Women who have experienced abuse are likely to be impacted in all aspects of their lives – emotionally, physically, psychologically, spiritually, socially, and financially. It may affect work and intimate relationships. Some women may face additional obstacles and barriers related to childcare, housing, poverty and racism, as well as language barriers, isolation, immigration policies, fear of the legal system, and lack of experience accessing or navigating through social services and other systems.
Every person has the right to live without fear. If you are experiencing abuse, you may wish to explore safety-planning and other steps you can take to try to keep yourself and your children safe. Remember that you are not alone and that help is available.
The same rights pertain to all survivors of violence, regardless of gender identity or of sexual orientation.
