Why is violence against women and children such a common problem in Canada?

Violence against women and children exists in everyday life in all societies. It takes many forms in our communities.

Canada has some of the most thorough and advanced laws in the world to protect women and children. Yet, violence against them is still a major problem. To learn more about the forms this violence takes, go to Question #2 (Woman abuse) and Question #5 (Child abuse).

Some women have to deal with added discrimination. These include:

• Women who are Deaf or have a disability
• Lesbians
• Older women
• Members of racial or cultural minorities
• Members of language minorities (who weren’t raised speaking English or French).

Why does violence against women continue?

Attitudes still exist that portray women as deserving abuse. This only worsens the inequalities many women live with each day.

There is no simple explanation for violence against women. It results from many factors in our society that send the message that women are not worth as much as men. Some examples are:

Structures in our society

There are parts of our social system that keep women from being equal. For example, many women:

• don’t have as much income to support themselves and their children
• don’t have access to subsidized day care
• can’t be sure they’ll be protected if they leave their violent spouses
• find it hard to access the criminal justice system.

Social, religious and cultural beliefs

These are beliefs about male and female roles which can contribute to violence. For example:

• It’s okay for men to use force to control women.
• The man is the head of the household. Women are there to serve men’s needs.
• The family is a sacred place. What goes on there is nobody else’s business.
• Families should always have two parents.

Personal life experiences

A person’s view of how women should be treated is affected if they:

• witness woman abuse as a child
• accept that it is normal for men to express anger with violence.

 What can be done?

Woman abuse is a complex problem. It is linked to the attitudes, values and systems in our society. We will need a number of strategies to change the things that make it so common. These strategies must include:

• improving the legal system
• setting up extensive education campaigns
• dealing with the structural barriers in all parts of life that keep women from being equal.

 Where can I go for help or information?

London Coordinating Committee on Violence Against Women. ASAP, 1993.

Sinclair, Deborah. Understanding Wife Assault: A Training Manual for Counsellors and Advocates. (Toronto, ON: Ministry of Community and Social Services, 1985), 36-41.

United Nations Publication. Strategies for Confronting Domestic Violence: A Resource Manual. New York, 1993.

United Nations Publication. Violence Against Women in the Family, 1993.

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This question was prepared for the Canadian Health Network by Education Wife Assault and the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence.
Created: April 1999