IN TACLOBAN CITY: A CONSTANT DEJA VU
3. Conceptual Framework
Violence against women has been described as a global issue of
“epidemic proportions” and considered to be the most widespread and socially tolerated form of human rights violations (WHO, 2013 and UN Population Fund, 2005). It has multiple and multidimensional effects and the common denominator is being gender based (Camarad, 2007). However, before delineating to
Source: Philippine National Police as cited in Philippine Commission on Women (2014)
Figure 2
The Philippine Commission on Women also added that there is an increasing number of cases under the RA 9262 from 218 in 2004 to 16,517 cases in 2013. Continuous information campaign on the law and its strict implementation may have cause the increasing trend.
However, there must be some cases who were not reported because they are silenced and threaten by their partners.
Source: Philippine National Police as cited in Philippine Commission on Women (2014) Figure 3
27 individual gender indicators, the role of the society becomes a part of these phenomenon- because violence against women is considered a social problem.
According to Stuart Rice, social indicators are needed to find pathways through the maze of society’s interconnection. Given the focus of the study to provide a picture why violence against women persists, individual and social representations, expectations and values should be properly defined and presented.
Based from the individual and social interactions, the researchers used the Ecological model of VAW. According to Casique and Furegato (2006), the ecological model studies factors active in four distinct spheres: individual, family, communication and sociocultural. The model focuses on violence in the interaction among its distinct levels. As discussed above, individual and social indicators are considered to be factors why violence against women is prevalent.
The model also presents that there are superposing causality levels, in which there is not only single determinant but an interaction of operating factors. These causal factors and their interactions need to be known in their distinct contexts cultural environments.
Through this, we could identify the fragile points and roads to advance in violence prevention and specific interventions.
The ecological model analyzes the factors influencing people’s behavior and factors increasing the probabilities of people turning into victims or perpetrators of violence acts. It has four levels as mentioned in the study of Casique and Furegato (2006), shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Ecological Model
we could identify the fragile points and roads to advance in violence prevention and specific interventions.
The ecological model analyzes the factors influencing people’s behavior and factors increasing the probabilities of people turning into victims or perpetrators of violence acts. It has four levels as mentioned in the study of Casique and Furegato (2006), shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Ecological Model
The first level includes the biological and personal history factors. These comprises the personal and demographic characteristics, antecedents of aggressive or self-devaluation behaviors, mental or personality disorders and substance-related disorders. In the study, the researchers will only consider the self-devaluation behaviors and other personal disorders as presented by the respondents.
The second level presents closer relations, such as those between couples and partners, other family members and friends. It has been observed that these increase the risk, of suffering or perpetrating violent acts. Additionally, having friends who commit or incite violent acts can increase the risk that young people will suffer or execute these actions.
Furthermore, the third level explores the community contexts, where and how social relations are developed in places such as schools, work places and neighborhoods. The risk can be influenced by factors like mobility of the place of residence, population density, high unemployment levels and existence of drug trafficking in the area.
Lastly, the fourth level is directed at general factors, related to the structure of society.
Society community
relations
individual
The first level includes the biological and personal history factors. These comprises the personal and demographic characteristics, antecedents of aggressive or self-devaluation behaviors, mental or personality disorders and substance-related disorders. In the study, the researchers will only consider the self- devaluation behaviors and other personal disorders as presented by the respondents.
The second level presents closer relations, such as those between couples and partners, other family members and friends.
It has been observed that these increase the risk, of suffering or perpetrating violent acts. Additionally, having friends who commit or incite violent acts can increase the risk that young people will suffer or execute these actions.
Furthermore, the third level explores the community contexts, where and how social relations are developed in places such as schools, work places and neighborhoods. The risk can be influenced by factors like mobility of the place of residence, population density, high unemployment levels and existence of drug trafficking in the area.
Lastly, the fourth level is directed at general factors, related to the structure of society. These factors contribute to create a climate that incites or inhibits violence, such as possibility of obtaining arms due to social and cultural standards. These include standards such as reaffirming men’s dominion over women and having an ineffective police force. This level also includes other facts, such as sanitary, economic, educative and social policies, which contribute to maintain economic or social inequalities among groups.
Using Figure 4 to explain the nature of violence against women, the researchers formulated a conceptual framework that encompasses the role of the support institutions in conceptualizing women empowerment as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5. Conceptual Framework of the Study
Through this model, the researchers will be able to create the picture of VAW in Tacloban City and could create a micro-level analysis, in order to understand and recommend possible solutions to lessen and support the women undergoing these cases.