Gender-Based Violence During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini-Review

Abstract

Purpose: Quarantine is necessary to reduce the community spread of the Coronavirus disease, but it also has serious psychological and socially disruptive consequences. This is known as the quarantine paradox that also includes a surge in the cases of genderbased violence. However, there exists a clear gap of rigorous literature exploring the issue. Hence, the current paper attempts to understand gender-based violence as an aspect of the COVID-19 lockdown. It reviews the pattern of rise in gender violence cases and the resultant psychological and social issues and attempts to create awareness by initiating a discourse urging for change in the response towards the victims of genderbased violence. The paper further attempts to suggest measures to mitigate the issues arising out of gender violence during quarantine. Method:The current paper reviews the literature on the rise of gender-based violence in the times of current and past pandemics. The paper also reviews the published reports in scientific as well as mass media literatures focusing on the rise of gender-based violence during the imposed lockdown, its consequences, and the measures taken by the governments to tackle the issue.Results: The present review reveals that similar to the previous pandemics and epidemics, there has been an alarming rise in the incidents of gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present review further reveals various other risk factors that have been found attributive to the surge of gender-based violence such as economic insecurity and alcohol consumption. The results of the review indicate that despite its global prevalence, gender-based violence has been one of the most neglected outcomes of pandemics. Moreover, the legislatures and services available for such victims are often inadequate and, thus, worsening their situation. Conclusion:Pandemic situations have been found to be associated with advancements in the medical field. However, a part and parcel of this situation is the age-old practice of quarantine that has several negative outcomes. This also includes a surge in gender-based violence that raises serious concerns about the safety of women. As the legislatures provided and measures taken by the governments are falling short in dealing with the issue, a number of non-government organizations are stepping up to provide necessary services to these victims.

Children’s Vulnerability to Sexual Violence during COVID-19 in Kenya: Recommendations for the Future

“…SGBV is exacerbated during crisis situations because of heightened gender inequality and financial pressures (4), as well as difficulties in accessing relevant medical and legal services (5). COVID-19 has further intensified SGBV due to lockdown measures, effectively trapping victims in their homes with potential abusers [for a review of GBV during COVID-19, see (4)].…”

The Balancing Act: Employed Women Navigating the COVID-19 Lockdown in Sri Lanka

“…The risk factors that are identified as attributive to the surge in domestic violence against women and children during the pandemic include economic insecurity and poor coping strategies that include alcohol consumption and substance abuse on the part of men (Human Rights Watch, 2020). Indeed, it has been reported that increasing male unemployment is associated with increasing interpersonal violence against women (Bhalotra et al as cited in Mittal & Singh, 2020). Schneider et al (as cited in Mittal & Singh, 2020) suggest that such an outcome could be the male backlash resulting from the feelings of emasculation and inadequacy at not being able to fulfil the requirements of conventional manhood.…”

“…Indeed, it has been reported that increasing male unemployment is associated with increasing interpersonal violence against women (Bhalotra et al as cited in Mittal & Singh, 2020). Schneider et al (as cited in Mittal & Singh, 2020) suggest that such an outcome could be the male backlash resulting from the feelings of emasculation and inadequacy at not being able to fulfil the requirements of conventional manhood. Further, the financial impact of COVID-19 has been also identified as a factor that plays a major role in the break-up of families and couples, especially given its detrimental psychological impact on men, ‘more so than women still base their self-worth on their ability to provide economic security for their family’ (Savage, 2020).…”

“…One could question if the support programmes that exclusively focus on supporting women could be counter-productive in terms of ensuring the well-being of women when backlash against the perceived preferential treatment of women is likely from men who are not perceived as 'vulnerable' from within conventional frames of understanding. However, this is not to decry support programmes for women-their economic dependence on men has also been identified as a cause for domestic violence (Arthur & Clark, as cited in Mittal & Singh, 2020)-but to point to the need to consider how men may also be affected in different ways and may require support.…”

Patterns of Violence Against Adults and Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kenya

“…For instance, lockdowns and curfews mean that people have to remain VIOLENCE DURING COVID-19 IN KENYA indoors with abusers and are unable to access outside assistance because police and vital services are unavailable, and abusers can act with impunity. 22, . 23 More research on SGBV during times of compounding crises is needed, however.…”