Gender must be taken into account

PATRICK McGINNITY suggests domestic violence is not and should not be seen as a gendered issue (Irish Examiner, January 16).

Domestic violence, however, is and must be seen as a gender issue because men and women live gendered lives. Whether we agree with it or not, men and women’s lives vary considerably, in part because of their gender.

For example, women are more likely to take on caring roles, which puts them in a different position to the bread-winner. Also, women are more likely to be targets of rape and sexual assault both in and out of the home.

Domestic violence is only one area of the wider phenomenon of violence against women, which also includes rape and sexual assault, prostitution and trafficking, pornography, female genital mutilation and practices such as ‘honour killing’ and female infanticide.

The UN recognises that violence against women stems from unequal power relationships between men and women.

The more unequal the relationship the more at risk of violence generally women are. Where women have few rights, they are targets for violence, abuse and exploitation.

In Ireland marital rape was not a crime 17 years ago because that is how the system saw it — a wife could not be raped by her husband because he was entitled to do what he wished. The only marital rape conviction since then was partly secured because the husband in question confessed to the rape, believing he was entitled to rape his wife.

Men, of course, also experience violence. However, the perpetrator is more often than not a man — whether the victim is a woman or a man.

I agree with Mr McGinnity that male-bashing is not what is needed — a constructive, open and informative discussion with a firm commitment for improvement is what is needed.

Kirsi Hanifin

Women and Equality Officer

Labour Party

17 Ely Place

Dublin 2