What is gender-based violence? 

Gender-based violence is an umbrella term that encompasses many different forms of violence and abuse including sexual and domestic violence. Earlier in the movement, folks often used the terminology, “violence against women” and there has been a shift to using the more inclusive “gender-based violence” to recognize that it is violence directed at someone because of their biological sex and/or gender identity. We are examining imbalances of power and how that is used to harm someone else by exerting control over them.

What is domestic violence?

Domestic Violence, Domestic Abuse, Relationship Abuse, and Intimate Partner violence are often used interchangeably. They are used to describe relationships where there is a pattern of behavior one person uses to gain and maintain power and control over the other person. I prefer the word “abuse” to “violence” because not all forms of abuse are physical; in fact the forms of abuse that can have the most damaging and long-lasting effects are psychological and emotional. 

Why do we use the term “survivor” instead of “victim”? 

Whenever we are talking to someone about their experience, we use whatever term they used to describe themselves. When we are leading trainings or writing blogs we use the term survivor. A perpetrator caused the harm and the victimization. The survivor is the one who endured it. Whatever that looks like, they are the ones surviving every day.  

How does trauma affect the brain?

Trauma can present in many different ways for individuals and communities. Trauma is a profound and meaningful loss of control. It can be a singular experience or a chronic and ongoing one. How trauma impacts someone has as much to do with what kind of support they did (or didn’t) receive following their experience as it does with the event itself. Everyone has the capacity to heal, but everyone needs (and deserves) support to be able to heal. Trauma can ripple down through generations and ripple out of individuals to impact communities. And so can healing. Healing looks different for everyone but it is most possible when we have someone in our lives who can provide a believing and supportive response. 

What does it mean to be trauma-informed? 

We understand trauma as a profound and meaningful loss of control. Trauma-informed approaches provide opportunities for choice and empowerment. Not everyone has experienced trauma, but everyone can benefit from a trauma-informed approach to learning and working. Being trauma-informed is meeting each person where they are, embracing humility to recognize that we won’t always know what those around us have experienced. It’s fostering spaces and relationships that foster trust, provide predictability and stability, and providing transparency when we cannot offer choice. 

How does gender-based violence affect businesses? 

Every company has or will have employees who have been directly or indirectly impacted by domestic or sexual violence. A 2018 national survey of domestic violence survivors found that 83% of respondents reported that their abusive partners disrupted their ability to work. Among those who reported experiencing one or more disruptions, 70% said they were not able to have a job when they wanted or needed one, and 53% said they lost a job because of the abuse. 49% said they missed one or more days of work, 18 % missed out on a promotion or raise, and 38% said they lost out on other work opportunities. 

If companies want to invest in their employees’ wellbeing and support their longevity and productivity at work, addressing domestic and sexual violence can be a crucial and even life-changing or lifesaving step. For some survivors, their workplace is one of the few places they experience safety and stability. Workplaces can offer tangible and effective options to help increase an employee’s access to safety and support if they are experiencing abuse.

How can you support someone who has experienced abuse?

Supporting someone who has experienced abuse requires compassion, patience, and understanding. Start by listening without judgment and offering a safe space for them to share their feelings. Educate yourself on the impacts of abuse and the healing process to provide trauma-informed support. Encourage them to seek professional help and respect their boundaries and choices throughout their recovery journey. For more in-depth insights and practical advice, read our blogs on this important topic.

5 Tips for Supporting a Survivor of Sexual Assault

How to Support a Loved One who is Experiencing Abuse (and why this can be so hard)

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