In addition to intimate partner violence, the term "domestic violence" also includes violence within the family. In order to narrow down our field of intimate partner violence, we explicitly name this form of violence. Intimate partner violence refers to violence between people in any kind of romantic relationship. It can take various forms and manifestations: physical, sexualized, psychological, social, digital and economic. The form of violence is used to exert control over the person concerned. It is not an incident that takes place once and a cycle that does not end on its own. It is often a systematic cycle of violence. It can have a massive impact on the health and social life of those affected. This also and especially applies to children, who often witness the violence. A very large proportion of intimate partner violence is directed against cis women, trans* women and non-binary people [2]. Historically evolved patriarchal structures cause and encourage this form of violence and, above all, shape the unequal power dynamics within the relationship. In most cases, the perpetrator of violence falsely claims ownership over the person affected, which makes the violence all the more life-threatening, as it can end in femicide in the worst case scenario.
Domestic violence
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What does that mean?
The Domestic Violence Situation Report 2023 (Germany) shows that 79.2% of those affected by intimate partner violence were women. In 77.6% of cases of domestic violence registered by the police, the abuser was the male partner [3,4,5]. People affected by multiple discrimination and overlapping structures of oppression are also particularly at risk with regard to intimate partner violence due to their social marginalization, as they are often structurally excluded from protection and help or access to it is made more difficult. This includes, for example, racism, homo- and transphobia, ableism and classism [6,7].
Gender is fluid and there are more than just binary categories. With our app, we address all “FLINTA* people” [8] who are affected by gender-based intimate partner violence. We write this out unless we are dealing with external statistics, which often only collect the binary gender categories “cis man” and “cis woman” [9]. All FLINTA* people can be particularly affected by gender-based intimate partner violence. The use of the acronym is intended to clarify the designation of the target group, but not to make different discrimination and experiences of violence as well as intersectionalities within the groups addressed invisible. The commonality is that the violence experienced is gender-specific and the groups are all patriarchally discriminated against. But the discrimination shows in different ways and to different degrees. We are aware that other groups of people can also be affected by domestic violence.
Gender-based intimate partner violence is usually a gradual process. It begins in everyday situations. It usually escalates over time. Unfortunately, many cases even end fatally in femicide.
There are different phases in this kind of relationships that repeat themselves. The perpetrators of violence often use targeted strategies to gain an advantage. For example, they isolate those affected from their support system. As a result, they lose their sense of self and no longer believe that they can free themselves from their situation.
Early warning signs are difficult to recognize and are often not taken seriously. Violence does not always mean it has to be physical. Control and isolation mechanisms are also a form of violence and should be treated as such.
155 femicides in 2023⁵
Femicides are the killings of "one or more women by one or more men because they are women." (10). According to police crime statistics, there were 155 femicides in Germany in 2023 alone. This means that a woman was killed by her (ex-)partner every 2.4 days - there is an attempted femicide every day. These are not isolated cases and they need to be adressed as a structural problem. Femicides are the most serious expression of patriarchal and gender-based violence: "Overall, it is clear that the cross-societal phenomenon is a symptom of persisting patriarchal patterns of thought and structures" (11).
Even if preconceptions say otherwise, gender-based intimate partner violence exists in all social groups. It affects people regardless of their financial situation, background or education, income or age [12]. One in three women in Europe is affected by this kind of violence in the course of her life [13]. The figures are not declining, they have actually been rising for years.
Violence always has to do with power and control. Patriarchal ideas shape social structures that are leading to unequal treatment and violence. The environment of those affected and the society as a whole often do not intervene or even help to perpetuate the violence because of myths surrounding the topic. As a result, those affected often seek help late or not at all out of fear.
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21.11.2024 | Estimated reading time: ~ 23 minutes Stop femi(ni)cides!Femi(ni)cides are not isolated incidents. Time and again, we see reports of feminized individuals, cis women, and trans* women being murdered by their (ex-)partners or cis men from their close circles. This is unacceptable! On the occasion of November 25th, we aim to raise awareness about the most extreme form of violence against women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender individuals. Not only on November 25th but every single day, we demand: STOP FEMI(NI)CIDES! -
![Cover picture: "Internationaler Tag gegen Gewalt an Frauen", which translated means "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women".]( "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women")
25.10.2024 | Estimated reading time: ~ 10 minutes Campaign collection for November 25Here you will find a collection of actions, demonstrations and events for November 25, the "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women". We will keep updating the list from the beginning of November until 11/25/24. If you have any tips, please send them to us via the contact form.
[1] We are guided, among other things, by the definition of gender-based and intimate partner violence from UN Women Germany: "Forms of violence against women and girls".
[3] BKA (2022): Partner violence - Crime statistics evaluation
[4] BKA (2022/2023): Bundeslagebild Häusliche Gewalt
[5] BKA (2023): Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik
[7] BMFSFJ (2013): Life situation and burden of women with disabilities and impairments in Germany.
[8] We use the acronym FLINTA*, which is widespread in Germany. It stands for women (in German F for Frauen), lesbians, inter, non-binary, trans and agender people - i.e. people who are patriarchally discriminated against because of their gender and/or sexual identity.
[9] "Cis men or cis women identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. The opposite of cis is trans*." (Inclusive language, glossary by Rowohlt Verlag in cooperation with the Bundesverband Trans*).
[10] Russell, Diana E. H., and Harmes, Roberta. (eds.) 2001. Femicide in Global Perspective. New York: Teachers College Press.