Getting serious about gender-based violence

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This article was published 28/05/2024 (853 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Every week we are horrified by reported incidents of gender-based violence at work, in community and in homes. The provincial government defines gender-based violence as “violence that is committed against someone based on their gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender. Gender-based violence can take many forms: cyber, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional and economic.”

Compounded by the isolation during the pandemic, gender-based violence became known as the ‘shadow pandemic’ as the lockdown made people in abusive relationships more vulnerable. We are still struggling to address the dire consequences due to an unravelling social safety net, lack of shelters, and other supports perpetuating the problem.

Awareness is growing that people who use abuse and violence in relationships are acting out of their own trauma, with reactions based on internalized toxic masculinity, characterized by a need to control others, when unable to control their own feelings of loss, fear, vulnerability, or anger. Understanding this helps us see that we all have capacity to act out of survival mode.

Comprehending underlying causes of the abusive behaviour is essential to address gender-based violence, however the real challenge is what to do about it. Treatment of trauma is critical to stop the cycle, in relationships at the interpersonal and intergenerational levels, and for this we need a trauma informed social safety net, with an intersectional approach to the various systems.

A trauma-informed social safety net would mean that the Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) or welfare program pays for mental health treatment and therapy, not just prescriptions, so people can address the underlying trauma contributing to addictions and remaining in abusive relationships. Trauma informed EIA would also eliminate the “spouse in the house rule” that requires people, including those with children on EIA, who enter a domestic relationship with an employed person, be removed from the EIA program. And instead, be financially dependent on the income of a working partner. Economic dependency sets people up for abuse, making it near impossible to leave.

The report. Basic income: making the case for women & gender equity summarizes how “a universally accessible, income-tested basic income would increase women’s bargaining power related to employment; facilitate access to more options in housing and childcare; provide financial security for women to leave abusive relationships; and lead to improved physical and mental health.” Transforming EIA to a livable basic income must happen during this term of government, along with other help and treatment people require to heal. Manitoba needs a program like Alberta’s Escaping Abuse Benefit that allows people fleeing violent relationships a lump-sum payment to re-establish themselves.

Trauma-informed Child and Family Services would be proactive to prevent abuse and neglect, and not simply apprehend children after violence and abuse has happened. This requires investment into parenting, supports and respite particularly for people on low income, newcomer families, and those moving from northern communities who experience social exclusion, and isolation and Winnipeg.

A trauma-informed housing policy would make housing stability a priority to reduce the risk of violence by ensuring tenancy agreements can be easily amended to remove violent tenants. Removing a partner that uses violence from a lease is key. Manitoba Housing Authority already prioritizes access for people fleeing intimate partner violence, but more designated units are needed, more shelters, particularly that allow longer than two months stay. Additional transition or second stage housing with wrap around supports are required. Harm reduction must be applied, meaning resources to ensure that people using drugs can seek safety and get help.

Universal $10 a day child care also helps prevent gender violence by ensuring parents, particularly mothers, can work. Having an income, and a social network makes possible victims less vulnerable to control, isolation, and violence. Policies and strategies to keep kids stable in their child care and school, like removing perpetrators not the victims, are essential.

Trauma informed mental health supports, are more holistic, and of a quality that addresses underlying trauma. Mental health supports must be culturally safe, for Indigenous people, LGBTTQ+ folks, newcomers and people with disabilities, all people more likely to experience violence and abuse. Quality healing and mental supports for both victims, perpetrators, and witnesses, especially children, are part of prevention and breaking the cycle of abuse. Realizing people who use abuse and violence were often once victims helps us design supports with compassion and wisdom to address this complex challenge by creating public and community responses that are restorative and focus on healing not just punishment.

The Reweaving Support Project will be releasing more details for a trauma informed social safety net to address the role of oppressive systems that normalize and glorify violence. The role of social media, online gaming and pornography, movies, sports, military, and other institutions also must be addressed through education and policy changes. Effective education in schools, workplaces, community groups and other settings. The Reweaving Support Project is finalizing a system map and new vision for a trauma informed social safety.

Caylyn Aikin is the lead organizer for gender-based violence and mental health with the Reweaving Support and has spent 10 years working in front-line social services. Marianne Cerilli is the Reweaving Support Project Lead and Capacity Builder. Visit Reweavingsupport.ca for more information.