Tag Archive for: intimate partner violence

A Look Into RE-IMAGYN BC: Improving How We Measure Gender and Relationship Equity

Authors: Yas Botelho (they/them) Youth Research Associate, Faculty of Health Sciences Simon Fraser University and Harman Grewal (she/her), Research Assistant, Faculty of Health Sciences Simon Fraser University | Editors: Romina Garcia de leon, Janielle Richards  (Blog Coordinators) | Expert Reviewer: Lindsey Thurston 

Published: August 16th, 2024

Our intimate relationships are meaningful social determinants of health. Lack of gender equity in relationships can lead to intimate partner violence, exposure to sexually transmitted infections, and unwanted pregnancies. Because of these potential health outcomes, it’s important to: a) measure relationship equity effectively and b) ensure that our measurements encompass diverse relationship structures and populations. However, the scales currently used to measure gender-based power dynamics within intimate relationships were designed solely with cisgender, heterosexual, white, and monogamous married women in mind.

The failure of these measurements to represent the needs of youth became evident in Dr. Kalysha Closson’s work evaluating the effectiveness of the Sexual Relationship and Power Scale (SRPS) with young people in South Africa. The SRPS measures controlling behaviour and decision-making dominance of male partners in intimate relationships. In the study, it was revealed that participants had challenges with comprehension of the SRPS questions resulting in multiple interpretations of questions and overall, a lack of applicability to young people’s lives. These findings demonstrate a need for a more inclusive and contemporary measurement of gender and relationship equity.  

Intimate partner violence occurs in all settings and socio-economic backgrounds, yet research has shown that certain groups of people are at greater risk of intimate partner violence including: young women, young disabled women, Indigenous women, non-binary youth, and lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Therefore, there is a great need for more accurate measurements of relationship equity to best support programming for those at risk.   

That’s where our study comes in: the Relationship Equity and Intersectional Measurement Among Gender-inclusive YouNg people in British Columbia (RE-IMAGYN BC) is looking to create a more inclusive and comprehensive gender and relationship equity measurement scale through a youth-led and community-based approach that is “informed by the lived and living experiences of queer and trans youth”. 

In practice, this means putting together a team of youth who belong to the study population of interest (queer, trans, gender diverse, and non-monogamous youth between the ages of 16 and 29 years in BC) to co-lead every aspect of the study as Youth Research Associates (YRAs) or through our Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). 

The YRAs are embedded in RE-IMAGYN’s day-to-day research activities as they check in with one another, as well as the other study members on a bi-weekly basis. Additionally, they support the facilitation of the YAC, collect data, and assist with data analysis and knowledge mobilization activities. They are compensated $50 for every cognitive interview they complete and $25/hour for all other study-related activities. 

In comparison to the YRAs, the YAC plays an overarching advisory role. They participate in discussions about study methods, data analysis, and knowledge mobilization in 2-hour meetings that take place every 4 to 6 weeks. When new youths join the YAC, they are compensated $50 for reviewing various onboarding materials and then $50 for every meeting they attend and complete the associated pre-work for.  

Central to our youth-engaged approach is allowing the youth to show up in this work in the best way that works for them. Some examples of this are: offering tailored research training so that the youth feel empowered to lead the study, and using methods of communication that are more accessible to the youth, such as Discord and text as opposed to email.  

The success of RE-IMAGYN is contingent upon the relationships we have with these youths, as well as our community collaborators. We encourage the youth to bring their whole selves, meaning their identities, experiences, stories, and worldviews, to everything that we do. The goal is to collectively ground our work in relationality to disrupt power imbalances that exist between researchers and community, making room for shared decision-making that makes for more equitable and, in turn, better research.  

To stay up-to-date with our study, please follow us on Instagram @reimagyn.

 

The Pandemic is Taking Women’s Breath Away: Intimate Partner Violence and Strangulation on the Rise During COVID-19

Author: Karen Mason, Co-founder of SOAR (Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research) | Editors: Alex Lukey and Arrthy Thayaparan (Blog Coordinators) 

Published: November 25th, 2020

Since Covid-19 and its lockdowns first threw a giant wrench in our collective lives more than eight months ago, news headlines around the world have echoed a similar theme. 

“Calls to Canadian domestic violence helplines jump during pandemic”

“Minister says COVID-19 is empowering domestic violence abusers as rates rise in parts of Canada”

“A New Covid-19 Crisis: Domestic Abuse Rises Worldwide”

Whether it’s CBC, the Canadian Press, or the New York Times, the message is clear and unequivocal: The pandemic has created ideal conditions for intimate partner violence and abuse to thrive. Vulnerable victims are trapped at home with their abusers, making it harder than ever to access help and safety.

Intimate partner violence and abuse already affect one in three women around the globe. In Canada, a woman is killed by her intimate partner every six days, and Canadians spend more than $7.4 billion in tax dollars every year on the consequences of intimate partner violence.

While the pandemic can’t be blamed for  intimate partner violence, it has absolutely played a major contributing role in worsening this existing public health emergency. Indeed, UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, has called violence against women the “shadow pandemic” of the Covid-19 crisis.

This past summer, the Ending Violence Association of Canada and Anova surveyed 376 staff and volunteers in the gender-based violence sector. The resulting report “Pandemic Meets Pandemic: Understanding the Impacts of Covid-19 on Gender-Based Violence Service Provision” found that 82% of workers described “an increase in prevalence and severity of violence.”[1] Comments from the survey also referenced a dramatic increase in reports of strangulation. 

Strangulation is an extremely common, and dangerous, form of intimate partner violence. It is widely known as the most lethal form of intimate partner violence, which happens in roughly half of all cases, and can cause brain injury or death within minutes.[3] In fact, women who are strangled are 750 times more likely to be killed in a subsequent assault.[4] It’s a shocking and highly troubling fact of which most survivors, and indeed, many of those who work on the frontlines to support them, are not even aware.

The increase in violence, and strangulation in particular,  is even more alarming given the findings from a small, but steadily growing, body of research. Recent studies have shown as many as 92% of women who experience intimate partner violence may also experience a brain injury. [2] 

 

 

Given the shame and stigma still associated with intimate partner violence, many victims are reluctant to report it. That fact, combined with an ongoing lack of education on the intersection of intimate partner violence with brain injury, means many of these injuries go undiagnosed and untreated.

What can we do? 

In a bluntly worded commentary in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, several authors said when it comes to health care providers the answer to that question is “more”.[5]

The piece stated those who work with women in health care settings “frequently” encounter victims of partner violence. Yet only 14% of patients, who clearly had intimate partner violence-related injuries, were questioned specifically about the issue or their need for support.

The article went on to add “health care providers, although facing the need to learn many new skills related to COVID-19, must also maintain awareness of IPV, seek opportunities for self-education, develop strategies for discussing IPV and become familiar with currently available local resources for patient referral.”[5]

Recognizing the true scope of intimate partner violence, and of strangulation as a highly lethal aspect of it, must be part of that effort. For those who work in health care, that means learning how to look for key signs and symptoms. 

Women who’ve been strangled may have:

  • Raspy voice
  • Trouble swallowing/breathing
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Red spots in eyes or on skin
  • Scratches/bruising on neck
  • Loss of memory
  • No visible signs or symptoms! It’s important to note strangulation can often cause unseen internal injury that can lead to death, even months after an incident.

Women who’ve experienced brain injury as a result of intimate partner violence may report:

  • Trouble sleeping
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Worries and fears
  • Depression
  • Sensitivity to noise and light
  • Memory issues
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Trouble managing emotional responses

But what about those among us who aren’t medical professionals? What can we do when faced with the possibility a friend, co-worker, or family member may be experiencing intimate partner violence?

Educate Yourself

Learning about the Cycle of Abuse, which outlines the pattern of how violence escalates and explodes, is a good way to educate yourself. 

 

 

While the cycle can occur over the course of hours, days, weeks, or months, it’s typically the same.Becoming familiar with the signs of abuse you might notice is another great way to get educated.

Victims may:

  • Have bruises, scratches or other unexplained injuries.
  • Seem anxious, uncomfortable or afraid around their partner.
  • Withdraw and make excuses not to spend time with family and friends.
  • Seem to have little access to money or other resources.
  • Wear clothing such as pants and long-sleeved shirts, even in summertime.
  • Get frequent calls or texts from their partner and display a need to check in often.
  • Make excuses for their partner’s bad behaviour

Listen and support

One of the key things any of us can do when it comes to interacting with survivors of intimate partner violence is to listen and provide support. Be a non-judgmental, confidential ear, and consider saying things such as:

  •  “You didn’t deserve this. It’s not your fault.”
  • “I’m sorry this happened to you.”
  • “I’m concerned about you.”
  • “How can I help?”
  • “It sounds like you’re doing the best you can.”
  • “I’m here to listen.”

Women who receive positive responses tend to recover more quickly. They are even more likely to work with the authorities, access safety supports, and report future instances of violence.

Refer

If you know someone who is experiencing abuse, and they’re ready to leave the relationship or otherwise seek help, there are countless free, confidential resources to which you can point them, including Sheltersafe. This clickable, online map resource from Women’s Shelters Canada connects women to the nearest shelter, where they can find safe refuge, and the counselling and other supports they need to transition into a life free of abuse.

With the second wave of the pandemic upon us, and new lockdowns already underway or looming, it’s clear the risk to victims of intimate partner violence is far from over. And while this November 25th marks an important opportunity to highlight the issue through the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of  16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we must remain vigilant in the months and year still to come if we are to have any hope of beating the shadow pandemic.

 

Karen Mason is an advocate for women survivors of intimate partner violence, and is co-founder and director of community practice for SOAR (Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research). All figures have been provided for by SOAR.

 

References

1. Trudell, A.L. & Whitmore, E. (2020). Pandemic meets Pandemic: Understanding the Impacts of COVID- 19 on Gender-Based Violence Services and Survivors in Canada. Ottawa & London, ON: Ending Violence Association of Canada & Anova. https://endingviolencecanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/FINAL.pdf

2. St Ivany, A., & Schminkey, D. (2016). Intimate Partner Violence and Traumatic Brain Injury: State of the Science and Next Steps. Family & community health, 39(2), 129–137. https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.0000000000000094

3. Strack, G. B., & Gwinn, C. (2011). On the Edge of Homicide: Strangulation as a Prelude. Criminal Justice, 26(3), fall. Retrieved from https://www.familyjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/On-the-Edge-of-Homicide-Strangulation-as-a-Prelude-Strack-and-Gwinn-2011.pdf.

4. Glass, N., Laughon, K., Campbell, J., Block, C. R., Hanson, G., Sharps, P. W., & Taliaferro, E. (2008). Non-fatal strangulation is an important risk factor for homicide of women. The Journal of emergency medicine, 35(3), 329–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.02.065

5. Bradley, N. L., Dipasquale, A. M., Dillabough, K., & Schneider, P. S. (2020). Health care practitioners’ responsibility to address intimate partner violence related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 192(22). doi:10.1503/cmaj.200634

Feature image courtesy of Nicolas Moscarda on Unsplash​.

Violence Against Women Escalates as We Flatten the Curve for the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors: Nisha Malhotra (PhD, School of Economics, UBC) & Karen Mason (Co-Founder, SOAR)

Every day, headlines of violence broadcast news from around the globe. The stories occur in different locations and different cultures, with different perpetrators, but many have one thing in common: women are the victims. Since much of the world went on lockdown in an effort to slow the spread and devastation of COVID-19, global reports indicate that women are increasingly being abused and killed and thus are bearing the brunt of this pandemic as they self-isolate in an effort to flatten the curve for us all.

Violence against women is not new. It’s already rampant in Canada—three in ten women have been sexually assaulted at least once since the age of 15, and a woman or girl is killed violently every two-and-a-half-days, most often by a male partner or a family member. The pandemic has shone a light on this global health crisis and brought the discussion of women’s rights to a safe environment to the forefront. Canada identified its first case of COVID-19 on January 25, 2020. By the end of March, all provinces had declared a state of emergency. Businesses, schools, offices, stores, and daycare facilities shut down, and measures to physically isolate people within their homes quickly became the norm. These measures forced individuals to stay in physically-bound spaces with their family members during these highly stressful conditions. Homes are unsafe for most victims of partner violence, and social distancing does not distance victims from their abusers, particularly when they already live together. In 2018, 50% of intimate partner violence reported to police occurred in homes occupied by both the victims and the abusers. A lockdown requiring victims to spend longer hours in proximity to their abuser is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of violent episodes. And since 80% of victims of intimate partner violence in Canada are women, they face a disproportionately higher impact of measures taken during a pandemic. 

Physical and social distancing disconnect  victims from their support networks such as friends and grassroots organizations, many of which are operating at reduced capacity. There is also a loss of community support that might have helped a potential perpetrator from committing a violent crime. A rise in incidents of intimate partner violence is not a surprise when these factors are coupled with stressors of financial insecurity and job loss caused by the pandemic. In fact, numerous studies have shown that natural disasters and pandemics lead to an increase of these risk factors.

“Pandemics and health emergencies, including SARS, Swine Flu, and influenza, have been associated with problematic coping behaviours, anxiety, suicide attempts and mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress and depressive disorders, with quarantines, social isolation and limitations on freedom as possible contributing factors.” (Peterman et al., 2020, p 9)

While the COVID-19 pandemic is no excuse for such crimes, it is certainly providing the context in which existing violence can fester, worsen, and explode. 

 

 

Shutdowns and Economic Downturns

With non-essential services shut down during the pandemic many families have to take on the additional work of caring for children and other family members while concurrently working from home and fulfilling other regular household responsibilities. Others found themselves unemployed and dealing with the financial and emotional impacts of being laid off, while also trying to navigate the unknowns of this unprecedented situation. An economic and financial downturn is inevitable during a pandemic, as manufacturing and services shut down, supply-chains breakdown, international trade falls, and the economy contracts. The recession not only leads to salary cuts and unemployment, but also increases the likelihood that job losses will continue into the future. Uncertainty about the future, coupled with increased food insecurity and poverty, exacerbate stressors known to contribute to domestic violence. 

Essential Intoxication

The above stressors can also increase reliance on drugs and alcohol. This reality is particularly worrying given that a large body of research (as well as a wide array of anecdotal evidence) suggests that increased alcohol consumption leads to a higher likelihood of violence and abuse. The sale of alcohol was declared an essential service in much of Canada during the lockdown and a recent poll showed that 25% of Canadians between the ages of 35-54 and 21% of 18-34-year-olds reported drinking more alcohol at home. Similar results were reported from a crowd-sourced survey conducted in Ontario during the lockdown. This poll discovered that 70% of those that changed their drinking behaviour indicated they had increased drinking since the start of COVID-19.

In 1994, The Supreme Court of Canada acquitted a man who sexually assaulted a disabled woman. Drunkenness was used to excuse his actions. The Charter of Rights was invoked to justify intoxication as a defence for the abuser in a majority ruling (6-3). Sadly, the Henri Daviault case was not an exception. In light of other such cases, the government passed a law disallowing extreme intoxication as a defence for violent crimes. Yet on June 3, 2020 Ontario’s Court of Appeal allowed an individual accused of sexual assault to use extreme intoxication in their defence, declaring it a constitutional right. When courts refuse to convict people who violently attack people after willingly and knowingly intoxicating themselves, violence is even more likely to rise—especially when alcohol is deemed a necessity during a stressful pandemic. Sadly, the majority of people accused of domestic violence are male and the majority of victims are female. Furthermore, according to the 2018 Canadian Health survey, males are more likely to report heavy drinking (23.5%) compared to females (14.8%). If intoxication is allowed as a defence for violent crimes, it undermines a woman’s rights to safety and justice.  

Collateral Damage

Violence against women doesn’t just affect its direct victims. According to the federal Department of Justice, Canadians collectively spend $7.4 billion every year dealing with the repercussions of intimate partner violence. Costs include everything from health care, loss of income, therapy and funerals. Then there’s the intergenerational cost. In a typical year, as many as 362,000 children in Canada are exposed to family violence (Unicef, 2006). Research indicates that children who witness at least 10 violent episodes between their parents before they’re 16-years-old are twice as likely to attempt suicide, and children who witness intimate partner violence have twice the rate of psychiatric disorders as children from non-violent homes (Fuller-Thomson, Baird, Dhrodia, & Brennenstuhl, 2016; .

Shelter and Relief

The frequency of calls to crisis lines and stays at shelters have either increased substantially or, surprisingly, decreased across Canada. Professionals indicate that decreases could be the result of increased monitoring by the abuser at home, thus diminishing a woman’s opportunity to seek support or leave. Many experts predict that shelters, which are already under-resourced and under-funded, will see a surge in people requiring beds as the easing of restrictions continues around the world. Researchers investigating the intersection of intimate partner violence and brain injury also fear that the number of women suffering brain injuries due to violence will increase as well. 

 

 

 

 
What now?

On March 18, 2020 the federal government announced $50 million to support the sector working to end violence against women. Of this, up to $26 million was dedicated as emergency funding to support eligible shelters and transition houses. These are important, and necessary, steps. However, more is needed to address the existing epidemic of violence against women and prepare for the challenges still to come. Women’s groups and advocates, such as NUPGE, have been calling for a national action plan on violence against women and gender-based violence since 2015—yet it still does not exist. And our legal system makes it harder for survivors of sexual assault and violent crimes to get justice by allowing extreme intoxication to be considered a legitimate defense against such violent crimes. 

In its report “COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls” the United Nations urges countries across the world to form national responses. They encourage nations to include plans for increasing and adapting funding programs and support for essential services such as shelters, hotlines and online counselling services. This may include the provision of psychosocial support for women and girls directly affected by intimate partner violence and for frontline staff who often suffer vicarious trauma. Furthermore, they highlight the need for governments to prioritize training for front line workers about intimate partner violence and to ensure strong, timely action is taken by law enforcement on cases of violence against women and girls. 

And there’s still more that can be done. Canada needs to ensure that there are pandemic-safe housing options in place as alternatives to already-overburdened shelters. A financial aid program needs to be formalized to reduce victims’ dependence on their abuser. And more resources relating to family courts during and after a health crisis need to be provided. The experts agree a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic IS coming. While on that it seems there is no question, one question remains: when it comes to keeping women and girls safe, will we be ready?

*If you feel unsafe in your home or relationship and need support, visit www.sheltersafe.ca for resources across Canada. If you are in immediate danger, call 911*

References

Abramsky, T., Watts, C.H., Garcia-Moreno, C. et al. (2011). What factors are associated with recent intimate partner violence? findings from the WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence. BMC Public Health 11, 109.

Canadian Department of Justice. (2009). An estimation of the economic impact of spousal violence in Canada. Available: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/rr12_7/p0.html – sum

Devries, K. M., Mak, J. Y., Garcia-Moreno, C. Petzold, M., Child, J.C., Falder, G. et al. (2013). The global prevalence of intimate partner violence against women. Science 340(6140): 1527–8.

Eckhardt, Christopher I., et al. (2015). Mechanisms of alcohol-facilitated intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women 21(8).

Fuller-Thomson, E., Baird, S. L., Dhrodia, R. & Brennenstuhl, S. (2016). The association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicide attempts in a population-based study. Child: Care, Health and Development. DOI: 10.1111/cch.12351

ISPCAN. (2020). Behind closed doors measuring family violence in the context of COVID 19 in Canada. Retrived from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YVLFl8l0mM&feature=youtu.be 

Peterman A, Potts A, O’Donnell M, Thompson K, Shah N, Oertelt-Prigione S, van Gelder N. Pandemics and violence against women and children. Center for Global Development working paper. 2020, April 1:528.

Statistics Canada. (2018). Family violence in Canada: A statistical profile, 2018. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2019001/article/00018-eng.htm

Unicef. (2006). Behind closed doors: The impact of domestic violence on children. Available: http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf