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  • Adult Children Exposed to Domestic Violence
  • Runaway & Homeless Youth Toolkit
  • Prevent Intimate Partner Violence
  • Violence Against Women Resource Library
  • Domestic Violence and Housing Technical Assistance Consortium
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Project
  • National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

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An Online Resource Library on Gender-Based Violence.

Addressing the Root Causes of Violence

First, let’s talk about violence. What is violence and how is it used? In doing this work, we have come to understand sexism and its intersections with racism, classism, and other forms of oppression to be at the root of sustaining and perpetuating violence against women. This section explores the social construction of violence in our society. We will define violence and understand its root causes. In order to prevent gender-based violence, we must address racism and other systems of oppression. There is no survivor justice without racial justice!

As you journey through this section, think about how this definition of violence aligns with your previous and current perception of violence.

Defining Violence
In The New Playbook: Standing Strong to Promote Non-violence by the Ohio Men’s Action Network, violence is defined as: Any action, inaction, or structural arrangement (Including Power and Control) that results in physical, psychological, and social harm to one or more persons.
Connecting the Dots: Risk & Protective Factors
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publication, Connecting the Dots: An Overview of the Linkages Among Multiple Forms of Violence (July 2014) helps us understand how multiple forms of violence are connected through shared risk and protective factors. It also helps us understand the need for collaborating at the community level. Violence cannot be prevented by a single person, agency, organization, or group. It takes community collaboration and working together to prevent violence and promote social justice.

Watch Moving Forward to learn more about how increasing what protects people from violence and reducing what puts people at risk benefits everyone. 

Addressing Systematic Oppression Including Race & Privilege
“Privilege does not mean you’re rich, a bad person, had everything handed to you or have never had challenges or struggles. Privilege just means there are some challenges and struggles you won’t experience because of who you are.” – Franchesca Ramsey

We know systems of oppression and violence are inextricably linked. Therefore, we must address racism, transphobia, homophobia, economic injustice, and connecting systems of oppression in order to end gender-based violence.