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Home / News / 5 common myths about gender-based violence
October 17, 2024
Content Note: This article deals with the subject of gender-based violence. If you or someone you know is experiencing gender-based violence or needs help, dial 2-1-1 to connect with resources and support services available in your community. 211 Alberta is a confidential helpline available 24/7 that can provide access to crisis intervention, counseling, safe shelters, legal assistance and more.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive issue that affects millions of women in Canada, cutting across every social, economic, and cultural boundary. In fact, just over 2 in 5 Albertans will experience some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetimes.
The international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign, which runs from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day), calls for collective action and reminds us of the importance of recognizing, preventing, and addressing violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in all its forms.
United Way affirms this collective action through its Women United initiative. Thanks to Women United’s powerful network of changemakers, women and girls right here in our region are better able to get the support they need to escape and recover from this abuse.
Despite increased awareness and efforts to combat this issue, many myths and misconceptions about GBV continue to hinder progress and prolong harmful stereotypes. These myths not only conceal the severity and complexity of the issue but also make it more difficult for survivors to seek the help they need.
So, let’s debunk five common myths about GBV and highlight some of the support programs and services available through United Way and its front-line agency partners.
Reality: Gender-based violence can affect women of all ages, races, socioeconomic statuses, and backgrounds. It is not limited to any specific group.
Fact: According to Canadian Women’s Foundation, 2 out of 3 people in Canada know a woman who has experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, regardless of their background.
Support: United Way supports several local organizations that provide services to all women affected by GBV, including the Today Family Violence Help Centre, which offers immediate, integrated, and inclusive services to individuals impacted by family violence.
Reality: Leaving an abusive relationship is incredibly complex and difficult. Survivors often face barriers such as fear of retaliation, financial dependence, and a lack of social or family support.
Fact: Survivors of abuse return to their abusive partners an average of seven times before they leave for good.
Support: We know that for many people experiencing gender-based violence, leaving the situation isn’t the only thing they might need help with – but figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming. 211 Alberta, an initiative of United Way, aims to make it easier to get the help an individual needs in a holistic way. By dialing or texting 2-1-1, GBV survivors can connect with a trained resource navigator to access a range of supports from emergency shelter to mental health counselling to financial or legal advice.
Reality: GBV can take many forms, including emotional, psychological, financial, and sexual abuse. All forms are deeply harmful and can have lasting impacts on a survivor’s life.
Fact: Emotional and psychological abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence, leading to long-term issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
Support: United Way’s frontline funded partner Stop Abuse in Families Society provides survivors with trauma informed counseling to help them enhance mental well-being and develop personalized coping strategies, positive self-esteem, and healthy relationships. In addition, United Way’s Empower U program addresses financial abuse and barriers by helping women regain control of their finances. Through a combination of financial education, one-on-one coaching, and matched savings, participants learn how to budget, reduce debt, and achieve financial goals.
Reality: Abusers often appear loving and charming to outsiders, making it difficult to recognize signs of abuse. Similarly, many women are skilled at masking their abuse. Often, even close friends and family remain unaware of what’s happening behind closed doors.
Fact: There are many complex reasons why women may remain silent about their abuse. They may fear retaliation, judgment, or not being believed. Some feel trapped due to financial dependence on their abuser, while others may stay silent out of concern for their children or a lack of support.
Support: United Way funds educational programs that work to raise awareness of the signs of abuse. The Strathcona Shelter Society, for example, provides a public education program to learn how to recognize, respond, and refer individuals experiencing family violence, safely and compassionately.
Reality: GBV is not just a personal issue — it is a societal one. It affects entire communities and requires collective action to prevent and address.
Fact: GBV costs lives, and the statistics are sobering. In 2022 alone, 184 women and girls were violently killed in Canada, primarily by men. This devasting reality means that, on average, one woman or girl loses their life every 48 hours due to violence.
Support: United Way is committed to supporting organizations such as Riseup Society Alberta, which educates and empowers communities to end gender-based violence. Riseup offers psychoeducational programming to educate, spread awareness, and to ultimately help decrease the prevalence of GBV.
United Way’s Women United supporters are passionate about raising awareness of GBV and supporting survivors and their families.
On November 19, 2024, Women United will host I Choose Me: Empowering Women Against Gender-Based Violence to discuss how we can work together to confront gender-based violence.
Join United Way at this evening networking event to hear about the movement against GBV from Liz John-West, Executive Director of CEASE (Centre to Empower Survivors of All Exploitation & Trafficking). Learn more about how abuse manifests, explore practical strategies to safeguard yourself and your loved ones, and connect with community-minded changemakers and advocates.
Together, we can empower women and girls in our community to rise above the barrier of gender-based violence to create a brighter future.
Find out how you can be a part of the Women United movement to help empower women and change local lives.
