Gender-Based Violenceand HIV
The Season for Change Advent StudyWeek Four
Reflection on Putting Faith into Action
▪ What “challenge” did you take on after last week’s study?
▪ Feel free to share …– Thoughts– Concerns – Challenges– Triumphs
Gender-Based Violence
▪ 1 in every 3 women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused during her lifetime.
▪ Globally, domestic violence = leading cause of injury to women
▪ Usually the abuser is a member of her own family.
Country Type of Violence% of Women Who Have
Experienced this Violence
Bangladesh Sexual 50
Brazil Physical 34
Ethiopia Sexual 59
India Physical 40
India Sexual 33
India Domestic abuse 70
Tanzania Physical 47
Gender-Based Violence
▪ Every 9 seconds in the U.S. a woman is assaulted or beaten.
▪ 30% of women murdered in the United States are murdered by their husbands, ex-husbands or boyfriends.
▪ Domestic violence victims lose ~8 million days of paid work per year in the U.S.
▪ In many nations, 20-44% of men admit to using violence towards wives/intimate partners.
▪ Globally ~10 million children witness domestic violence annually
▪ Men who as children witnessed their parents’ domestic violence = 2X as likely to abuse their own wives
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HIV and Gender-Based Violence
▪ 12% of HIV/AIDS infections among women in romantic relationships intimate partner violence.
▪ Prevalence of intimate partner violence among women at risk for HIV may be as high as 67%.
▪ In developing countries, 1 in 3 women cannot refuse sex with their partners
▪ 41% of women are unable to ask partner to use a condom
▪ Women who experience intimate partner violence are >3X more likely to have a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS
HIV and Gender-Based Violence
▪ Violent/coerced sex increases women’s risk for HIV through physical trauma.
▪ Violence and threats of violence– Limit negotiating power for safer sex– Limit ability to leave/end a relationship
▪ Disclosure of HIV status to a partner could result in increased violence (emotional, physical, sexual, and/or economic)
Why Does Gender-Based Violence Exist?
Why Does Gender-Based Violence Exist?
▪ Societal definitions of masculinity
▪ Strict gender roles – Male = Dominant– Female = Submissive
▪ Cultural practices that perpetuate gender inequality, whether they do so intentionally or unintentionally
Why Should We Care?
▪ About people infected with HIV/AIDS?
▪ About Gender-Based Violence?
Advent Reflection & Resources
▪ Visit gbcsumc.info/HIV-Advent to download handouts and additional material.
▪ For additional information, visit the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund websitewww.umcor.org/UMCOR/Programs/Global-Health/HIV-AIDS