Gender-based Violence: Power, Use of Force, and
Consent
Objectives
1. identify the relationship between abuse of power and GBV;
2. understand that the term “violence” in the context of GBV; and
3. understand the meaning of “informed consent” and its relationship to GBV
Power and GBV
• Perpetrators can have “real” or “perceived” power
• Examples of types of power and powerful people:
o Social – peer pressure, bullying, leader, teacher, parents
o Economic – perpetrator controls money or access to goods/services/money/favors;
sometimes the husband or the father
o Political – elected leaders, discriminatory laws, President of the RoP
• Examples of types of power and powerful people:
o Physical – strength, size, use of weapons, controlling access or security; soldiers,
police robbers, gangs;
o Gender-based (social) – males are usually in a more powerful position than
females; and
o Age-related – often, the young and elderly people have the least power.
o Power is directly related to choice – the more power one has, there are more
choices available; the less power, the fewer choices available
o Unempowered people have fewer choices and therefore, more vulnerable to abuse
o GBV involves abuse of power
o Unequal power relationships are exploited or abused
Use of Force/Violence
• Force might be physical, emotional, social, or economic in nature
• May involve coercion or pressure
• Force also includes intimidation, threats, persecution, or other forms of psychological or
social pressure
• Violence consists of the use of physical force or other means of coercion such as threat,
inducement, or promise of a benefit to obtain something from a weaker or more
vulnerable person
• Using violence involves forcing someone to do something against her/his will – use of
force.
Consent
Objectives
1. identify the relationship between abuse of power and GBV;
2. understand that the term “violence” in the context of GBV; and
3. understand the meaning of “informed consent” and its relationship to GBV
Power and GBV
• Perpetrators can have “real” or “perceived” power
• Examples of types of power and powerful people:
o Social – peer pressure, bullying, leader, teacher, parents
o Economic – perpetrator controls money or access to goods/services/money/favors;
sometimes the husband or the father
o Political – elected leaders, discriminatory laws, President of the RoP
• Examples of types of power and powerful people:
o Physical – strength, size, use of weapons, controlling access or security; soldiers,
police robbers, gangs;
o Gender-based (social) – males are usually in a more powerful position than
females; and
o Age-related – often, the young and elderly people have the least power.
o Power is directly related to choice – the more power one has, there are more
choices available; the less power, the fewer choices available
o Unempowered people have fewer choices and therefore, more vulnerable to abuse
o GBV involves abuse of power
o Unequal power relationships are exploited or abused
Use of Force/Violence
• Force might be physical, emotional, social, or economic in nature
• May involve coercion or pressure
• Force also includes intimidation, threats, persecution, or other forms of psychological or
social pressure
• Violence consists of the use of physical force or other means of coercion such as threat,
inducement, or promise of a benefit to obtain something from a weaker or more
vulnerable person
• Using violence involves forcing someone to do something against her/his will – use of
force.
