Gender‐based violence: concepts, methods, and findings

NF Russo, A Pirlott

Abstract

The United Nations has identified gender-based violence against women as a global health and development issue, and a host of policies, public education, and action programs aimed at reducing gender-based violence have been undertaken around the world. This article highlights new conceptualizations, methodological issues, and selected research findings that can inform such activities. In addition to describing recent research findings that document relationships between gender, power, sexuality, and intimate violence cross-nationally, it identifies cultural factors, including linkages between sex and violence through media images that may increase women’s risk for violence, and profiles a host of negative physical, mental, and behavioral health outcomes associated with victimization including unwanted pregnancy and abortion. More research is needed to identify the causes, dynamics, and outcomes of gender-based violence, including media effects, and to articulate how different forms of such violence vary in outcomes depending on cultural context.based violence. We highlight some of the elements of gender-based  violence that  in the study of how such violence is experienced in the lives of women and men.

Relevance to scouting

Scouting is strongly committed to gender equality, safety, and inclusion, both within national organizations and through the WOSM strategy (e.g., “A peaceful and inclusive world”). Research linking gender-based violence to factors such as power, cultural norms, health, and media provides a solid foundation for developing Scout educational programs on gender, consent, and safety. By embedding these insights into workshops and awareness campaigns, Scouts can move beyond superficial messaging and address root causes. In contexts where gender violence is often under-acknowledged, this evidence-based framing helps Scouts respond with credibility and sensitivity.