Not addressing the root causes of crime and violence against women is like trying to put a bandaid over a gaping wound and hope it heals.
Gender stereotypes are the most significant underlying cause of violence against women. Throughout history, men and women have been conditioned by society to believe and think in certain ways. These long-held attitudes and thoughts have placed a significant burden on our cultural practices. One of the most poignant is violence against women.
In our society, sex differences are employed to explain gender differences, which in turn necessitate sex differences, and so on. This may be nothing more than circular thinking, but it is extremely powerful socially.
In our own patriarchal society, for example, males have a socially dominant position. As a result, boys are encouraged from an early age to develop a masculinity that allows them to occupy and keep that position. Similarly, girls are pushed to cultivate a submissive femininity. The ensuing difference in male and female characters is then portrayed as inborn and utilized to justify the current power structure. Only those who accept it as usual will be able to succeed. The male social position is intended to reward manly males, whereas the female social role benefits solely feminine women. (The assertive man will oversee the larger company; the attractive, amiable woman will find a wealthy husband.)
In other words, masculinity and femininity are gender characteristics that emerge as a result of societal discrimination. However, once created, they justify and solidify it. The masculine and feminine gender roles mutually reinforce each other, perpetuating the inequity they are based on. Obviously, this psychological mechanism can only function as long as men and women's behavior does not exceed socially acceptable boundaries. Every culture attempts to prevent such infractions by referring to socially determined gender roles as "natural," "eternal," and "unchangeable," and anyone who refuses to accept them is considered an offender not only against society, but also against "nature."
Joan of Arc, a young girl who not only led the French army to victory over the English, but also wore male clothes, is a historical example of such deviance. In her subsequent trial, she was immediately accused of violating natural laws.
Historically and currently, women's groups are making significant efforts to reinvent the roles of both genders by raising awareness and effecting change regarding gender imbalance. These efforts, however, are hampered unless men and boys take a more active part in fostering gender balance.
The patriarchal society is violent, and aggression is learned. To overcome it, we must adopt other learning spaces for open discussion.
Men are not superior to women, and women are not inferior to men; they are just different.
Throwing out outdated prejudices does not mean that all gender inequalities will vanish. In fact, it is more likely that differences between people within each sex will widen. With social balance gender differences are no longer an issue.
Those who advocate for equal rights for women do not seek uninspired sameness, but rather a society in which distinctions may exist without being exploited.
How can stereotyping come to an end?
It comes to an end when both men and women address stereotyping within ourselves and in how we raise our children.
Only then will violence against women end...
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