Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is any type of violence that takes advantage of people by using unequal power relationships and situational power imbalances that are rooted in society’s gendered expectations.
Anyone can experience gender-based violence regardless of age, sexual orientations, gender identity, ethnicities, and social groups.
Most forms of GBV involve one person having power and control over another. This often looks like someone crossing your physical, emotional, sexual, or financial boundaries in a specific situation, or on an ongoing basis. It may not always be clear when a situation crosses from healthy to unhealthy, or from unhealthy to something that may be considered gender-based violence. Read on to learn more about common types of GBV…
My therapist said something that changed my life. She said that, as a mother, I have all the power. I can’t control what other people do, but I can be that rock and use my pain to strengthen myself and my son. I can be there for him always. That helped me so much.
A healthy relationship is one where the partners have equal power and opportunity to express their feelings, thoughts, and needs. Relationship abuse is a pattern of behavior where one intimate partner gains (or tries to gain) power and control over another intimate partner. This includes current or former dating partners, on again/off again relationships, married or divorced partners, and those living together or apart. Intimate partner violence can occur between people of any gender identity or sexual orientation.
Emotional/psychological abuse is any behavior that causes another person emotional harm or trauma that controls them. Emotional and psychological abuse can include verbal put downs and name-calling, as well as attempts to isolate you from family and friends.
Does the person…
If you think you're experiencing this, or are not sure, you can get help through our resource directory.
Financial Abuse is any behavior that uses finances and/or employment that controls another person and/or affects your ability to be self-sufficient.
Does the person…
If you think you're experiencing this, or are not sure, you canget help through our resource directory.
Physical abuse is any behavior that is meant to cause harm to another person’s body or to control another person’s physical freedom or movement.
Does the person…
If you think you're experiencing this, or are not sure, you can get help through our resource directory.
Sexual abuse is any sexual behavior that takes place without the consent of a person involved. Sexual abuse can take place through force, coercion, manipulation, and/or when one person is incapacitated by drugs or alcohol.
Does the person…
If you think you're experiencing this, or are not sure, you canget help through our resource directory.
Family Violence is any abusive behavior that occurs between members of a family or household who are not involved in a romantic relationship. This includes chosen family, as well as people related by blood, marriage, foster care, adoption, or any other familial relationships.
Emotional/psychological abuse is any behavior that causes another person emotional harm or trauma in order to control them. Emotional and psychological abuse can include verbal put downs and name-calling, as well as attempts to isolate you from other family or friends.
Does the person…
If you think you're experiencing this, or are not sure, you can get help through our resource directory.
Financial Abuse is any behavior that uses finances and/or employment to control another person and/or affects your ability to be self-sufficient.
Does the person…
If you think you're experiencing this, or are not sure, you can get help through our resource directory.
Physical abuse is any behavior that is meant to cause harm to another person’s body or to control another person’s physical freedom, or movement.
Does the person…
If you think you're experiencing this, or are not sure, you can get help through our resource directory.
Sexual abuse is any sexual behavior that takes place without the consent of a person involved. Sexual abuse can take place through force, coercion, manipulation, and/or when one person is incapacitated by drugs or alcohol.
Does the person …
If you think you're experiencing this, or are not sure, you can get help through our resource directory.
Sexual violence is any action that results in someone losing their right or ability to give consent about when, with whom, and under what circumstances they engage in sexual activity. Sexual violence is a broad term that includes sexual harassment; sexual assault; sex trafficking; non-consensual distribution of intimate images; and any other non-consensual, forced, or substance-facilitated or drug-facilitated sexual action.
Sexual harassment is any inappropriate and unwelcome physical or sexual attention. Examples of sexual harassment include someone making unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sending unwanted sexually explicit photos/emails/text messages, exposing themselves or performing sexual acts on themselves, or other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
Sexual assault is sexual contact or behavior that happens without a person’s consent. Examples of sexual assault include unwanted touching or physical contact.
Sex trafficking is the use of power and control to force, defraud, or coerce someone into engaging in sexual labor or services.
Non-consensual distribution of intimate images is inappropriate, regardless of whether the images were obtained with the subject’s consent.
If you think you're experiencing any form of sexual violence, or are not sure, you can get help through our resource directory.
Stalking is a pattern of harassing behavior directed at another person that causes them fear. Stalking can result in physical violence and/or mental trauma. It can also be a predictor of future violence. A stalker can be someone you know, or a stranger.
Stalking behaviors can include:
If you think you're experiencing this, or if you think someone may be using technology to track you, learn more about staying safe online.
Trafficking is the use of power and control to force, defraud, or coerce someone into engaging in providing labor or services, including commercial sex. Traffickers exploit social and economic inequity for their own benefit, using tactics like violence, emotional manipulation, and psychological threats.
Individual red flags may include:
Individual barriers may include:
If you think you or someone you know may be experiencing this, or are not sure, you can get help through our resource directory.