What is it?
“Femicide is recognized internationally by the United Nations as the most extreme form of violence and discrimination against women and girls. Its definition varies across disciplines and world regions, but broadly captures the killing of females, primarily by men, because they are female.” — Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability
What beliefs contribute to femicide?
Digging deeper into what femicide is we can see that systems of patriarchy and misogyny incite beliefs that embolden perpetrators of this violence to act or to justify their actions. This includes a belief system that women belong to the men in their lives (ex. husbands, fathers). This creates a mentality that women are property and therefore able to be treated violently by the men in their lives because the men are the authority and violence keeps women in their place. Similarly some perpetrators of this violence believe that all women should submit to men. This belief then leads to anger and violence when a woman stands up to or disagrees with a man. This can then cause the perpetrators to see this as being challenged by a woman and they may feel that to defend their pride and masculinity they need to respond with violence, suppression, and silencing. One of the most common times this is seen is when a woman rejects a man’s relationship or sexual advances. Some men believe that they are entitled to sex or relationships with women. This entitlement strips agency from women and contributes to women being seen as accessories of men rather than full human beings in their own right. This leads to many forms of violence against women including femicide against not just women that rejected these men but also against women as a whole. Another form of these misogynistic beliefs is that women are less valuable than men, especially less valuable for a family. This can lead to violence and murder from family members who see their daughters as disposable. Lastly it has been seen that women can be targeted in femicide because they are viewed as weaker and more vulnerable. Femicide, like all violence, is rooted in power and control and some perpetrators think that when they are looking to gain these feelings of power women are easier targets for their violence. All of these beliefs are rooted in the dehumanization of women and part of a culture of violence against women.
Why is it important for to label this violence as femicide?
Femicide is systemic. Our society devalues women and teaches these beliefs but it does not have to be this way. But without naming this violence as femicide we miss the links between these acts of violence. We see them as individual instances and therefore respond to them individually without realizing that a systemic approach is needed to prevent further acts of violence. This includes policies and protections for women and work to change the underlying cultural beliefs that enable perpetrators to feel justified in their actions. This includes engaging youth in prevention education that teaches the younger generations to value the lives of all people, including women, as whole, deserving human beings. This includes calling out and challenging misogyny when it is first seen, not only reacting when it escalates to the level of femicide. When we can’t name these acts of violence as femicide we can’t begin to take the steps necessary to prevent it.
How does this connect to sexual violence?
This connects to sexual violence because the same beliefs that embolden femicide also are often what is emboldening perpetrators of sexual violence. In fact, femicide is more common in relationships where sexual violence has occurred because both stem from perpetrators attempting to feel a sense of power and control. These beliefs are deeply rooted in the beliefs of rape culture and so when we are working against femicide we are also working against rape culture and vice versa. To end violence against women we also need to see how all forms of violence and oppression are connected and therefore need to be eradicated all together to create a world where we can call live safely and thrive.