By Catherine Sasman
WINDHOEK
The most vulnerable in society are the most likely to be subjected to violence.
This puts people with disabilities more at risk, commented Ruth Woodhead, volunteer with the National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia (NFPDN).
“A lot of the people with disabilities are dependent upon others, are not in control of their situation, with very little power in their relationships, thus making them extraordinarily vulnerable to abuse,” said Woodhead in her contribution to a panel discussion at the recently-concluded national gender conference that was held in Windhoek.
Each form of disability, she added, can cause a different violent reaction: children and adolescents with learning difficulties can be exploited sexually or physically, or they can be expected to do long hours of work, gaining no education or life skills.
Men often sexually exploit women with learning disabilities. People likely to be victims of assault are blind or partially sighted because they are unaware of their surroundings.
And caregivers who do not have the appropriate parenting skills can abuse children with physical disabilities unintentionally.
Adding to the debate, Dr Gudrun Kober remarked that violence against women and children is not only an expression of male power and dominance, but also based in male vulnerability arising from social expectations of manhood and no opportunities to fulfill those expectations.
Societies with stronger ideologies of male dominance, said Kober, have more intimate partner violence.
“At times, a relatively high level of education can put a woman at greater risk of violence; she may, on the basis of her education, challenge conservative gender roles but not be educated enough to fend for herself and her children economically,” said Kober.
There is also a strong association between gender-based violence and high levels of conflict in a relationship, such as conflict around finance and women challenging male privileges and transgression of conservative gender roles.
There is also a strong association with violence and alcohol consumption, said Dr Kerstin van Wyk.
Alcoholism contributes to 14% of gender-based violent acts “because it reduces the ability to act responsibly,” according to Van Wyk.
Internalized dogmas such as “women must be submissive to men” further add to violent behaviour.
Co-dependent behaviour can also exacerbate violence.
The effects of gender-based violence can be deep and lasting. Children, said Kober, are not simply passive witnesses to violence.
“They actively interpret, assess and predict their roles in ‘causing’ the violence.
They engage in problem-solving and take measures to protect themselves and their siblings.
Between violent incidents children may actively modify their behaviour in an effort to prevent future violence.”
Other effects of violence, said Kober, involve feelings of anger, shame, guilt, sadness and confusion.
About 30% to 60% of battered mothers’ children experience neglect, emotional abuse, sexual or physical abuse.
The abusing partner may use the child as part of the control tactics in relation to his spouse, thus victimizing the child.
Kober further pointed to a direct link between attention deficit disorders in children and violence and abuse.
Children and young people can further experience emotional numbing, persistent worry about possible danger, headaches and stomach aches, or overly tiredness, strong separation anxiety, withdrawal from friends and activities, or sleeping disorders.
Women often experience depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and reproductive and physical health problems.