Table of Contents

Overview

To prevent GBV, it is vital to first understand why exactly GBV occurs. Neglecting to identify what factors contribute to a problem can result in misdirected efforts that fail to produce meaningful action to prevent that problem. It must be recognized that acts of GBV are not formed in a vacuum, separated from outside events or influences. GBV is in many ways a product of patriarchy—a hierarchal system of power relations that reinforces male, cisgender, heterosexual dominance. As such, this page presents:

• Statistics on the perpetrators of GBV, with attention to gender as a significant factor in committing acts of GBV.
• An overview of the gender binary in relation to the maintenance of patriarchy.
  • Note this overview is brief. If one wishes to learn more, they are encouraged to look through Further Reading .
• A synopsis of gender socialization, with attention to its role in normalizing GBV.
• A brief overview of hegemonic masculinity and the fragility of manhood.
• Discussion on how patriarchy is maintained, with attention to GBV as a patriarchal tool.
  • Note this section is expanded on in Colonization as Gendered Violence , as GBV is a means to maintain violent settler-colonialism. The deep-seated colonial attitudes that perpetuate racism and discrimination are compounded by the misogyny and sexism feeding violence against women of colour—especially Indigenous women.

Statistics on the Perpetrators of GBV

While women commit acts of GBV, men are most often the perpetrators of GBV. For instance, the 2018 report by Statistics Canada on gender-based violence and unwanted sexual behaviour in Canada, which was based on initial findings from the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Space, found:

• 95% of women stated that the most serious sexual assault they experienced was perpetrated by a man.
• 75% of women stated that a male stranger was responsible for the most serious instance of unwanted sexual behaviour in public. A male stranger was also the most common perpetrator of the most serious incident of unwanted sexual behaviour in public experienced by men (47%).
• 87% of men reported that a man was responsible for the most serious physical assault they had experienced, while 68% of women also stated that this was the case.

Men are not only more likely to be perpetrators of GBV, but are more likely to commit violent crime in general. For instance, a 2017 report on police-reported violence against girls and young women in Canada found about 4 in 5 people accused of violent crime are men. This is further evidenced by a table included in the 2018 report by Statistics Canada on gender-based violence and unwanted sexual behaviour in Canada, which details violent victimization within a 12 month period, by type of victimization, gender of victim, and selected incident characteristic: