The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
- Melissa Duban
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
Tuesday, November 25, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Established by the United Nations in 2000 to honor two slain political activist sisters and to raise global awareness about gender-based violence, it is observed annually around the world.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), the most comprehensive global agenda for women’s rights, prioritizing the elimination of gender-based violence as a critical area of concern. According to UN Women, a global champion for gender equality, the world is experiencing the highest number of active conflicts since 1946, creating unprecedented risks and suffering for women and girls. Violence against women and girls continues to be the most urgent and pervasive human rights violation, resulting in serious harm for individual women, families, communities, and broader society.
Deeply rooted in patriarchal gender norms, reinforced by culture, and fueled by entitlement and power balance misperception, violence is used as a tool of dominance and control against women. Understanding the root of the issue, the factors that perpetuate it, and ways to combat it is essential to realizing meaningful change.
Filmmaker Deeyah Khan’s powerful documentary Behind the Rage: Inside America’s Domestic Violence investigates the epidemic of domestic violence in the United States, where 1 in 4 women experience abuse, and most female homicide victims are killed by a current or former partner. In addition to interviewing survivors, Khan interviewed the abusers, offering the perspective that understanding perpetrators might be key to preventing future violence.
A Tale as Old as Time
Violence against women is the result of centuries of misogyny being normalized by pervasive patriarchal systems designed to control and punish women. Originating from ancient philosophical and religious ideologies that framed women as inferior, misogyny is defined as the hatred, contempt, or prejudice
against women. Throughout history, women have been vilified, scapegoated, or demonized and have been depicted as a threat that needed to be subdued, contained, or eliminated. According to how Puritans interpreted the bible, the first woman was the origin of sin in mankind, making the entire gender naturally sinful.
Misinterpreting scripture reinforced and promoted male dominance through the propagation of a dangerous narrative that normalized abuse and preserved patriarchal control. Blaming Eve as the culpable party in the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden is often thought to be the origin of misogyny. However, as early as the 7th century BCE, Greek and Roman mythology told cautionary tales about the dangers of women realizing their power and introduced the witch archetype. Transforming powerful women into green-faced witches and snake-haired monsters serves a dual purpose: it simultaneously diminishes the power of those who have escaped the patriarchal boundaries in their place and also discourages other women from following in their path.
Following centuries of witch hunts in Europe, this particular blend of religious extremism and misogyny made its way to New England. There, the Puritans wholeheartedly embraced it, leading to the Salem witch trials and sending a powerful message about the consequences of dissenting from established norms.
The cultural perception of witches began to shift significantly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with the rise of the women’s suffrage movement. Although strides were made for equality in voting rights, efforts were met with ridicule and extensive obstruction. The fear-mongering narrative around the growing popularity of the feminist agenda attributed the movement to moral decline, the disintegration of the family, and the emasculation of men.
Resisting the Resistance
Throughout history, gender equality efforts have been met with opposition from those who benefit from supporting a culture of misogyny. A global backlash emerged in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which was coined in 2006 and went viral in 2017 to support survivors of sexual violence. Often fueled by conservative and anti-feminist voices, this resistance reflected a broader struggle over gender norms and accountability. Ironically, conservative commentators and politicians claimed that #MeToo was a “witch hunt.”
During periods of feminist progress, gender equality can be interpreted as a threat, and toxic masculinity often intensifies as some men can perceive these shifts as a threat to their social position. This sense of status loss appears to be particularly pronounced among young men. Originating in the 1980s in gender studies and psychology, the term “toxic masculinity” was coined by therapists to describe destructive forms of masculinity rooted in violence. Toxic masculinity is deeply embedded in patriarchal societies, using traditional masculine norms to justify and maintain men’s dominance over women.
A cultural backlash against progressive norms has led to a rise in radical conservatism among Gen Z men. “There has been a real emphasis on Christian manhood, fueling a sense of masculine resentment — blaming feminism, liberalism, and so-called ‘woke culture’ for displacing masculine authority and robbing men of what they believe is rightfully theirs,” says Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a history professor at Calvin University.
The first generation to grow up entirely with social media, Gen Z has been raised on platforms which have given rise to the “manosphere” — a network of online communities that scapegoat feminism, frame men as its victims, and offer identity and belonging through hypermasculine principles, reinforcing harmful narratives and normalizing gender-based hate. According to the Movember Foundation, a leading men’s health organization and UN Women partner, two-thirds of young men regularly engage with masculinity influencers online. This victim messaging from “ manfluencers ” is not only shaping the attitudes of young men but also influencing their political leanings, often pulling them
toward conservative, right-wing ideologies.
Adding fuel to the fire was a recent controversial article in The New York Times, which featured conservative critics Helen Andrews and Leah Libresco Sargeant debating feminism’s impact on workplace culture. The article was a published version of a podcast episode, originally entitled “Did Women Ruin the Workplace?” and later changed to “Did Liberal Feminism Ruin the Workplace?”
following backlash. Perhaps the only thing that was ruined was the author’s reputation.
Fighting the Good Fight
There continues to be meaningful progress in the global fight to end violence against women. Key positive changes and emerging trends include stronger legal frameworks, expanded survivor networks, increased funding, and data improvements. Initiatives like the UN Spotlight Initiative have reached hundreds of millions, improved survivor services, and educated millions of men and boys on non- violence and gender equality.
Many social media influencers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are using their platforms to advocate against violence toward women through personal storytelling, education, and activism efforts. Hashtags like #DVawareness are being used to share personal stories, explain red flags in relationships, and promote healthy boundaries. Organizations led by men like A Call to Men, MenEngage Alliance, and the White Ribbon Campaign all work to educate men and boys to end violence toward women and promote gender justice.
Gender stereotyping, radical conservatism, and hypermasculinity promote dangerous ideologies, encourage divisiveness, and endanger lives. A cultural shift through education, awareness, and a higher standard of moral conduct is imperative in the effort to eliminate gender-based violence.
Her Nexx Chapter invites you to join our Community where women from around the world are connecting, exploring, and transforming lives.
The Future of Connection for Women
I’m Melissa Duban, and I’m thrilled to join Her Nexx Chapter as an Editor. I bring a background in psychology and years of experience in healthcare communications. My passion lies in empathetic storytelling and women's empowerment. I look forward to creating content that resonates, informs, and inspires.
