Norms and Gender Violence

Adel S Z Abadeer

Chapter Chapter 11 in Norms and Gender Discrimination in the Arab World, 2015, pp 201-226 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract Norms play a very important role in sustaining and perpetuating gender violence in the Arab world (and other similar countries). CEDAW’s definition of gender violence encompasses varying levels and forms of violence, “For the purposes of this Declaration, the term ‘violence against women’ means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life” (UN 1993). However, various cultural, social, and legal definitions of gender violence do not recognize certain forms and levels of violence. This allows socially and culturally sanctioned acts of violence against women to exist without them being considered as violent acts. Examples of practices that are not considered violent acts in many Arab countries (and other similar societies) include FGM/C, domestic violence, marital rape, and underage marriage. These practices are condoned or accepted as features of normalcy that are integral to the cultural heritage and social fabric of their societies. Cultural relativists underscore the importance of analyzing violence according to its cultural specific meanings (Zuckerhut 2011).

Keywords: Domestic Violence; Sexual Harassment; Arab Country; Gender Discrimination; Arab World (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-137-39528-3_11

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DOI: 10.1057/9781137395283_11

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