In the path to eradicate violence against womenWe necessarily have to consider educating children in respect and for a culture of "NO violence." Considering the environment in which we live, it is not an easy task, but if we do not do it like that, probably episodes of violence of all kinds will become more and more frequent. According to the definition of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, "Violence" is the quality of violent, and the latter (in one of its meanings) means "That is done abruptly, with extraordinary impetus and intensity".
It is easy to understand that violence is exercised in many ways, but especially against the most vulnerable. At this point, perhaps we would lose ourselves trying to explain the cultural, social or physical causes that make women targets of violence; and precisely we would explain very little, because there are even those who question that a quality of the masculine is to have more physical strength, to develop more muscles. The fact is that I am not too interested in EQUALITY considered in isolation, because in reality we are all different from all, and I think that the crux of the matter is not precisely pretending it. Another thing is “gender equality”, as a principle according to which women are equal to men by law, which guarantees the same rights and duties.
But as I always say:
- Gender equality is not yet a fact.
- The difference (in other aspects not related to the law, it is understood) is very positive; but it must also be "asserted"
- One problem we have today is lack of respect for individual rights, especially to the individual rights called First Generation. These are the right to life, personal integrity, individual FREEDOM, freedom of expression, assembly, and equality before the law. Even the right to property.
Well yes, among those mentioned above, the lack of respect for some of them (personal integrity, individual freedom, and even life) is causing violent episodes. And now yes, I have to say that this violence is clearly exercising against Women, and even against their children, as a way to harm them.
I repeat: the prevention of violence against women is as important as the protection (real, it is understood) to those who are at risk
In general, prevention of any violence is possible through family education, and a social climate in line with the values that are being transmitted to the children. I would say that more than an overly specific education, educational styles and behaviors of adults towards children should be reviewed. For example: in a home where children are humiliated or systematically beaten, the little ones are experiencing a climate of violence, they are learning that conflicts, including differences, are solved through superiority, physical force. Here are those that I consider ...
Keys to a NON-violent education
- Respect your children: their needs, their ideas, their fears. Accompany them in their growth without forcing them.
- Listen to them: by doing this you will discover what they think about the relationships they have with their peers.
- You can rework possible biases by asking them questions, or questioning from neutrality; for example: “okay, so and so told you that girls are stupid, what do you think of it? Why do you think it says so? What do your girl friends think of it? "
- Encourage dialogue at home; do not hide the social reality (It depends on their age, you can avoid extreme cruelty, but do not expect them to live in a parallel world); emit YOUR values on what you see and hear; Talk about respecting others.
- Help them to resolve conflicts WITHOUT violence: for example in fights between siblings, or between several children that you have at home playing. To do this, all versions of what happened must be listened to, and valid alternatives offered (which do not imply ending with fists, of course).
- Monitors the harmful stimuli they receive through exposure to technology (foul language against girls in a video, explicit violence, etc.). Avoid them if they are small, talk about it when they grow up and have viewed content that you consider inappropriate.
- It encourages them to be "free thinkers", to develop a critical way of thinking towards the world around them. This will also allow them to question the opinion of children or adults with whom they interact.
- Your child watches you, in fact learns more by doing it, than by what you explain to him. Keep that in mind: if you've yelled at your partner, or “lost your way with a neighbor,” your conflict resolution lessons won't be valid.
- In line with the above, assume and make your mistakes visible, show that you are wrong, and also that you want and can improve.
- Act as a member of a Community that you are. Cooperate with the school when problems of violence arise, attend the training activities they organize, express your point of view, ...
As you will see, I have not introduced two aspects, which although they are sometimes linked to education in equality, I think they are more related to responsibility, it is about collaboration in housework (for me it is very obvious: we all live in the home, we all share work); Y with freedom, I am thinking now of the freedom to play games and with toys that THEY decide (Girls with action figures, boys with babies, or the other way around? It's not that relevant, as long as it's your choice). But if you want, on another occasion we will expand this information.