Please note: the following classifications are proposed, but not standardized, definitions within the category of gender based violence, intended clarify the phenomenon. Definitions are based on national and international surveys.

Some Useful Terms…

Throughout the literature on gender based violence, the terms abuse and violence are used interchangeably, unless otherwise indicated.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence receives the bulk of attention when it comes to research on gender based violence. It is often equated to intimate partner violence, or abusive behaviour within a relationship. It embraces physical, sexual, psychological/emotional, as well as economic abuse.

Physical Abuse

Physical acts of abusive behaviour and/or threats of abuse such as: pushing, grabbing, shoving, hair-pulling, hitting, slapping, beating up, kicking, burning, choking, using a weapon, or threats of the above.

Sexual Abuse

Any coerced sexual contact or behaviour, or an attempt to coerce such, without the victim’s consent.(1) This category includes, but is not limited to: attempted or committed rape, any forced and non-consensual sexual act, as well as sexual behaviour that the victim finds humiliating and degrading.

Sexual Assault

Often used interchangeably with the above term (i.e. sexual assault), yet, definitions differ from study to study. Sexual assault includes, but is not limited to, non-consensual vaginal, anal, or oral penetration (with penis or object); forcing the victim to perform sexual activities (such as oral sex or other activities that the victim perceives as humiliating or degrading); sexual touching, kissing, or any other non-consensual sexual contact; as well as indecent exposure of body parts.

Emotional Abuse

Belittling, humiliating, or undermining an individual’s sense of self-worth/self-esteem (2) (e.g., constant criticism, verbal insults and name-calling, etc.).

Psychological Abuse

Acts of violence in the categories of emotional and psychological abuse sometimes overlap, and there is no clear-cut distinction between the two. Psychological abuse is generally perceived as any act that causes fear such as: threats, intimidation, controlling behaviours, and forced isolation, to name a few.

Economic Abuse

Causing/or attempting to cause an individual to become financially dependent on another person, by obstructing their access to or control over resources and/or independent economic activity.

Stalking

A pattern of behaviours, which are repetitive and unsolicited such as, unwanted attention, communication, or contact (e.g., following and spying on the victim, damaging property, threats, intrusive attempts for communication, etc.).

(1) US Department of Justice: OVW: http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/domviolence.htm (last accessed in May, 2007)

(2) Ibid, USDOJ: OVW