UKZN Philosophy Seminar Series: 'Is most violence gender-based violence?', Monique Whitaker - Wed 25 October, 2023, 14:00--15:30

[M. Whitaker]

University of KwaZulu-Natal Philosophy Seminar Series

 

Wed 25 Oct, 2023  |  14:00–15:30

Seminar Zoom link: https://ukzn.zoom.us/j/98040553450

 

Is Most Violence Gender-Based Violence?
Monique Whitaker

Abstract

The concept of gender-based violence (GBV) is often taken to be synonymous with that of (male) violence against women (and non-binary people). This has developed out of an increasing awareness and understanding of gender inequality and the way in which women are often subject to violence by men, because they are women. But regardless of victim gender, the perpetrators of almost all forms of violence are absolutely overwhelmingly male. Numerous theories—moral, psychological, biological, evolutionary, sociological, etc.—have been proposed to try to explain these differences, but whatever the explanation, gender clearly makes a crucial difference in who perpetrates and is the victim in a large percentage of the violence committed in any given society. Consequently, might we usefully consider most violence gender-based violence, in order to provide a better answer to why it happens and how to prevent it, especially insofar as the narrower concept of GBV is concerned?

 
Speaker Bio: Monique Whitaker is philosophy lecturer at UKZN. Her interests are in feminist philosophy, epistemology, and metaphysics.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact me,

Monique Whitaker

Seminar Series Convener