Essay

Violence Against Women in Canada

By: Suj

“More than 3,300 women are forced to sleep in an emergency shelter to escape domestic violence on any given day” (Statistics Canada, 2011)1. Violence against women is present in many forms including domestic violence, rape, and sexual harassment. Such behaviours can stem from the idea that women deserve less social power, which in turn causes men to show their power and control over women in demeaning methods. This is an issue that has been ongoing in society up to today – dating back to the second wave of feminism. Through further analysis, the importance of the issue of violence against women back in the second wave of feminism and which types of feminists were involved is determined. Whether or not violence against women prevails today and how this issue has shaped feminism will also be further explored.

Violence against women was an important issue to women during the second wave of feminism because during that time period, nothing was being done for abused women, which consequently left them with no escape from their situations. This issue caused both physical and emotional consequences for women as well as their children. Women would walk around the streets with black eyes, and not a single person would question what caused it because everyone was aware (Cho, Status Quo? The Unfinished Business of Feminism in Canada,2012)2, but chose to ignore it. By 1973, there were still no rape houses, women shelters or any safe place for abused women to go (Cho, Status Quo? The Unfinished Business of Feminism in Canada,2012)2 leaving them living in constant danger. A home is meant to be a place of comfort and safety, where one can stay to feel ‘at home’ and at ease. However, for many women during this time, their homes were their crime scenes – where they experienced violence towards them. The cases of abuse became more frequent, and the consequences more severe and changes were needed.

The physical and...