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A Guide for Parents and Society to Help Young People Navigate the Online World

Apr 2, 2025 | Battered Women's Support Services

This guide explores the complex effects of social media on young people, particularly young women and girls, highlighting the challenges they face. It also discusses actionable steps we can take as a society and as parents and guardians to support youth in navigating this complex online world safely and confidently.ย 

In a world where technology and online spaces are evolving at an alarmingly fast pace, young women and girls find themselves navigating an increasingly challenging social life.ย 

Unfortunately, this space is filled with unwanted sexual images, harassment, and cyberstalking. Despite the dangers, the fear of missing out (FOMO) keeps many young people on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.ย  For youth, staying connected online is essential for social interaction and community building. Social media platforms provide a space for self-expression, creativity, and connection with peers, which can be crucial for their development and sense of belonging.

FOMO drives young people to remain active on these platforms, as they fear missing out on important events, trends, and social experiences that their peers engage in.

There is constant pressure to be present and engaged, but it does create a cycle of anxiety that traps them in an online world that can feel overwhelming and makes it difficult to navigate relationships and their futures. ย 

Findings from a Girlguiding survey reveal alarming statistics: one in five young women and girls reports experiencing online stalking, and over a third have encountered sexual images they did not wish to see. Yet, more than half of 11- to 21-year-olds feel compelled to remain active on social media, driven by the anxiety of missing out on social connections and experiences.

A staggering 85% of survey respondents acknowledged experiencing sexism in their daily lives.

It is crucial to recognize that the challenges young women and girls face online are not their fault, but rather a result of a system that perpetuates sexism and misogyny.ย 

โ€œIn my daily life, I see how the constant pressure to meet unrealistic beauty standards and the normalization of sexism leaves girls feeling vulnerable and unsupported. Being online all the time amplifies this.โ€ – As 17-year-old Jiya, a Girlguiding advocate

The Effects of Social Media on Young Women and Girls

While social media affects young people as a whole, its challenges are experienced in disproportionately harmful ways by young women and girls.

This exposure to judgment and comparison fosters feelings of loneliness and erodes confidence, making it even harder for young women and girls to envision a positive future for themselves.

Alarmingly, nearly half (47%) of girls aged 11 to 21 feel that sexism and misogyny diminish their sense of safetyโ€”more than double the number who felt this way a decade ago.ย 

As the social media continues to amplify these pressures and harmful behaviours and attitudes, young women and girls are left grappling with a growing sense of insecurity and isolation, making the path to self-acceptance and empowerment all the more challenging.ย 

It is critical that we take action against the rising levels of misogyny that threaten the well-being of young women and girls. We must start treating extreme misogyny as a form of extremism and engage in a rapid review of how to effectively address these harmful ideologies. ย 

How We Can Take Action as a Society

As a society, we must advocate for stronger protections, better education, and accountability to create safer online spaces for everyone.ย 
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Strengthen Online Safety Policies
Advocating for stricter laws and protections against cyberstalking, harassment, and unwanted sexual content is essential in creating a safer online environment for young people. By classifying extreme misogyny as a form of extremism, society can prioritize urgent responses to these issues, ensuring that young women and girls are better protected from online threats.ย 
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Promote Comprehensive Education in Schools
Updating school curriculums to include discussions on online safety, digital literacy, and respectful relationships can empower students with the knowledge to navigate the digital world responsibly. This education is crucial for equipping young people with the skills to recognize harmful behaviour and foster a culture of respect and empathy.
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Raise Awareness and Challenge Gender Stereotypes
Supporting public campaigns that highlight the harms of online sexism is vital in shifting societal attitudes toward gender-based discrimination. By encouraging respectful behaviour online, these initiatives can help dismantle harmful stereotypes and promote a healthier, more inclusive online space for all young people.ย 
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Hold Social Media Platforms Accountable
Demanding that social media platforms improve content moderation and user safety features is critical to protecting young users from harassment and abuse. By pushing for transparency in how these platforms handle misogynistic and abusive content, society can ensure that companies take their responsibility seriously and create safer online environments for everyone.ย 

How We Can Take Action as Parents and Guardians

As parents, we can guide young people toward safer, more empowering online interactions by modeling healthy habits, supporting their self-confidence, and encouraging open dialogue.
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Foster Open Communication
Creating a safe space for young people to discuss their online experiences is essential for helping them process challenges they may encounter. By encouraging open dialogue without fear of judgment, parents and guardians can help youth feel supported and understood, making it easier for them to share their concerns about online harassment or negative interactions.
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Teach Digital Resilience and Empowerment
Equipping youth with skills to set online boundaries and report harmful content empowers them to take control of their online experiences. By encouraging them to follow uplifting accounts that promote self-worth and positivity, we can help them build resilience against negative influences and cultivate a healthier online environment.
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Model Healthy Social Media Habits
Demonstrating mindful social media use by balancing online engagement with offline activities is vital for promoting mental well-being. Encouraging young people to take regular breaks from social media helps them develop healthier habits and reduces the risk of anxiety and stress associated with constant online connectivity.
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Build Confidence and Challenge Stereotypes
Engaging in discussions about beauty standards and gender roles reinforces to young people that they deserve respect and value beyond societal expectations. By helping them recognize and challenge sexism, we can empower youth to stand up against harmful stereotypes and foster a culture of inclusivity and respect.
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Stay Informed and Support Advocacy Efforts
Staying informed about online trends and issues allows parents and guardians to better understand the online landscape young people navigate daily. Supporting advocacy initiatives aimed at promoting safer, more inclusive online spaces not only empowers youth but also contributes to broader societal change for a healthier online community.

Moving Forward

As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, it is crucial for both parents and society to take a proactive stance in supporting young people. By recognizing the unique challenges faced by youth, particularly young women and girls online, we can collectively work towards creating safer and more empowering environments.

At Battered Womenโ€™s Support Services (BWSS), we understand the importance of providing resources tailored to youth and to supporting youth, including information on internet safety and empowerment. We encourage parents, youth workers, teachers and youth to explore our website for valuable resources that can support the young people in your lives.

Together, we can challenge harmful behaviours and social media pressures, ensuring that young people can express themselves, build connections, and thrive in an online world free from harassment and discrimination. By prioritizing their well-being and empowerment, we can help them transform their online experiences into positive opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

As an organization dedicated to ending violence in all its forms, BWSS stands in solidarity with victims and survivors. For resources on safety, accessing support, and taking action against gender-based violence, visit our website.

You are not alone.

If you or someone you love is in need of support, please contact the Battered Women Support Services Crisis Line:

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868 Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867 Email: EndingViolence@bwss.org

19 Reasons Why We Never Want to Hear “Why Don’t They Just Leave” Again

Mar 26, 2025 | Battered Women's Support Services

A common assumption is that if someone is in an abusive relationship, they have the power to end the abuse simply by leaving. However, the reality is that leaving does not mean the abuse ends. In fact, after leaving is often the most dangerous time.

Violence in an intimate relationship is a systematic pattern of domination, where an abusive partner uses tactics to maintain power and control. When a survivor leaves, the abusive partner may escalate violence in an attempt to regain control. There are also many barriers that can make leaving difficult, and only the survivor knows when it is safest to do so.

The next time a survivor steps forward to disclose abuse, consider these 19 reasons why leaving is not always an immediate or safe option.

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Reason #1 - Fear

Fear of retaliation; of being killed; of the abusive partner hurting loved ones; of being stalked; of not being believed; of unsupervised visits with the abusive partner putting children at risk. The reality that the most dangerous time for a survivor/victim is when she leaves the abusive partner. 77 percent of domestic violence-related homicides occur upon separation and there is a 75 percent increase of violence upon separation for at least two years.

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Reason #2 - Gaslighting
Gaslighting occurs when an abusive partner minimizes whatโ€™s happening by convincing a survivor that their memories of events are incorrect. This can lead to self-doubt, making it harder to trust personal intuition about the level of danger, even when friends and family may clearly see the risks. An abusive partner may also shift blame, making the survivor feel responsible for the abuseโ€”as if changing their behaviour could make it stop.
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Reason #3 - Isolation
The abusive partner will isolate the survivor from their friends, family, community support, and resources, as abusive partners seek to cut off survivors from support networks as a control mechanism.
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Reason #4 - Children
Fear for the safety of children, especially if the abusive partner has threatened harm if the survivor leaves. Custody concerns, including the risk of the abusive partner gaining custody, something that happens in more than half of cases. The risk of child abuse as a consequence of attempting to leave.
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Reason #5 - Threats of suicide
The abusive partner may make threats to hurt their partner/children, other loved ones, and/or pets; threats to call Canada Border Services Agency or Immigration Canada; threats to take the children; threats to โ€œoutโ€ their partner to family or coworkers, etc.
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Reason #6 - Economic Necessity
The abusive partner may control the finances or be the sole source of finances for the family; the abusive partner may have destroyed the survivorโ€™s credit or forced joint accounts so starting over financially is not feasible.
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Reason #7 - Lack of resources/Information
Such as lack of transportation to services, lack of access to the internet to find services or lack of resources in the survivorโ€™s language.
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Reason #8 - Nowhere to go/Housing Crisis
Shelters are full, wait lists are long, and rent prices are too high, so even when survivors feel ready to leave they might not have anywhere to go.
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Reason #9 - Hope
The abusive partner promises they will change, using manipulative tactics to try to keep the survivor in the relationship.
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Reason #10 - A connection to the partnerโ€™s well-being
Far that the abusive partner will be arrested, imprisoned, deported etc. which may have consequences for the survivor through retaliation, finances, and children.
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Reason #11 - Racism
In the criminal justice system that results in a fear of turning to resources such as the police or courts.
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Reason #12 - Culture/religion/family pressures
Culture/religion/family pressures to stay together.
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Reason #13 - Failure of the criminal legal system
With a very low prosecution rate, survivors are unlikely to pursue legal action when it means being revictimized in court without meaningful results. Abusive partners often use threats to pressure survivors into recanting, and even when charges are laid, consequences are often minimal. In some cases, survivors have even been wrongfully arrested, accused of perpetrating the violence they were trying to escape.
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Reason #14 - Shame
The belief that the abuse is their fault, largely because of societal victim blaming. Causing many survivors feel like the abuse is somehow their fault.
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Reason #15 - Immigration status
Abusive partners may threaten the survivor with deportation if she discloses abuse, which can also result in fear of separation from children, law enforcement etc.
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Reason #16 - Distrust of police
If survivors have called the police in the past and had a negative experience, they are less likely to seek help again. The risks are even greater if the abusive partner is a police officer, as disclosing abuse can become even more dangerous. Abusive officers often manipulate the system, telling survivors that no one will believe them or that they can convince others the survivor is the perpetrator. Additionally, police officers retain access to firearms even after a domestic violence charge, increasing the risk of lethal violence.
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Reason #17 - Victims who are from other marginalized genders face stigmas
The most common survivor of domestic violence is someone who identifies as female, but people of all gender identities can experience abuse. Escaping an abusive partner can present additional barriers, particularly for non-binary survivors, who often feel excluded from the conversation about domestic violence altogether.
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Reason #18 - Elderly or having a disability
The abusive partner may be the survivorโ€™s caretaker or vice versa, the survivor might be the abusive partnerโ€™s caretaker. The survivor might stay out of obligation or may feel like they canโ€™t live independently without the abusive partnerโ€™s help.
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Reason #19 - Pets
Many survivors are unable to escape an abusive partner due to concerns about what will happen to their pets. Domestic violence does not discriminate, it affects even beloved animals. Abusive partners often use pets as a tool for power and control, making it crucial to include them in safety planning. If possible, avoid leaving pets alone with the abusive partner. When preparing to leave, consider reaching out to friends, family, or a veterinarian for temporary care. Use our online interactive tool to create a personalized safety plan with prompts to help protect both you and your pets while in an abusive relationship, planning to leave, or after leaving.
As an organization dedicated to ending violence in all its forms, BWSS stands in solidarity with victims and survivors. For resources on safety, accessing support, and taking action against gender-based violence, visit our website.

You are not alone.

If you or someone you love is in need of support, please contact the Battered Women’s Support Services Crisis Line:

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868 Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867 Email: EndingViolence@bwss.org

5 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Closet

Mar 24, 2025 | Battered Women's Support Services

Itโ€™s Spring Cleaning Time! The perfect time to refresh your space, and that includes your closet! As the seasons change, itโ€™s a great opportunity to declutter, reorganize, and make room for pieces that truly spark joy. Here are five simple tips to help you get started in your spring cleaning.

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#1 - Sort with Purpose
Take a close look at your wardrobe and ask yourself: Have I worn this in the past year? Does it still fit my style and lifestyle? If not, it might be time to let it go. Be honest about what you love and whatโ€™s just taking up spaceโ€”holding onto items โ€œjust in caseโ€ often leads to unnecessary clutter.
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#2 - Organize by Season
Make dressing for the weather effortless by keeping seasonal pieces at the forefront. Pack away bulky winter coats and heavy sweaters to free up space for lighter spring and summer attire. Using clear bins or vacuum-sealed bags can help keep off-season clothing organized and protected.
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#3 - Check for Condition
Inspect each item for wear and tear. Pieces that are still in great condition but no longer fit your style or needs could be loved by someone else! If something has minor damage, consider whether a quick repair could bring it back to life before parting with it.
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#4 - Declutter Accessories
Shoes, handbags, scarves, and jewelry often pile up unnoticed. Take time to go through them and let go of anything you no longer wear. Organizing accessories by type or colour can make them easier to find and use, adding a fresh touch to your daily outfits.
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#5 - Adopt the One-In, One-Out Rule
To maintain a clutter-free wardrobe, commit to donating or selling an item for every new piece you add. This simple habit helps keep your closet balanced, ensuring you only hold onto things that truly bring value and joy.

Donate Your Gently Used Items to My Sisterโ€™s Closet

Once youโ€™ve cleaned out your closet, consider donating your gently used clothing and accessories to My Sisterโ€™s Closet. Your donations help support the ending gender-based violence work of Battered Womenโ€™s Support Services.

And hereโ€™s the best part, during this spring cleaning season, from March 24th to March 31st, when you donate, youโ€™ll receive a 20% off coupon for your next in-store purchase!

Start your spring cleaning today and support thrift shopping to end violence. Donate your gently used clothing to My Sisterโ€™s Closet today!

As an organization dedicated to ending violence in all its forms, BWSS stands in solidarity with victims and survivors. For resources on safety, accessing support, and taking action against gender-based violence, visit our website.

You are not alone.

If you or someone you love is in need of support, please contact the Battered Women’s Support Services Crisis Line:

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868
Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867
Email: EndingViolence@bwss.org

Staying Safe While Online Dating

Mar 19, 2025 | Battered Women's Support Services

In 2024, the way couples meet has shifted dramatically, with 60% of people now finding their partners through online connections. Itโ€™s more important than ever to recognize the role the internet plays in keeping us connected, especially when it comes to dating. From dating apps and social media interactions to internet forums and beyond, online spaces have made it easier to meet new people but it comes with its challenges.

@smallcap_hugeprofit How did you meet your spouse? Times have changed! This #datavisualization shows a shift away from traditional introductions through friends and family or marrying high school sweethearts. The internet has transformed our love lives. What are your thoughts? #DisruptiveInnovation #ModernDating #Relationships #SocialTrends #Marriage โ™ฌ original sound - smallcap_hugeprofit

With so many turning to the internet for relationships and friendship, itโ€™s essential to consider how we can make these connections safely. How can we ensure our online experiences are comfortable and secure?

Here are a few things to think about as you take those first steps in connecting online:

1) Check-in with Yourself and your Boundaries

Before you start connecting with others online, it’s important to check in with yourself. Ask yourself: โ€œAm I ready to date? Am I interested in more casual dating, or am I trying to meet my forever partner?โ€

Asking yourself these questions is as important as knowing what youโ€™re looking for. It can also help ease some worries and ensure youโ€™re using your time wisely while online.

Alongside this, take the time to think about what dating means to you and identify your boundaries. Knowing what your boundaries are around things such as communication, personal space and intimacy can help you feel confident in yourself as you begin dating and help you establish clear expectations to avoid feeling uncomfortable as things progress.

2) Protect Your Privacy

When dating online, safeguarding your personal information is critical. Avoid sharing sensitive details like your home address, financial information, or private life too soon. Only begin disclosing personal information once trust has been established, and you feel comfortable with the person you’re interacting with. This extra caution will help you maintain control over your privacy and minimize any risks associated with sharing too much too soon.

Alongside this, take the time to think about what dating means to you and identify your boundaries. Knowing what your boundaries are around things such as communication, personal space and intimacy can help you feel confident in yourself as you begin dating and help you establish clear expectations to avoid feeling uncomfortable as things progress.

3) Trust Your Instincts

Your intuition is one of your best tools in staying safe online. If something feels off or you notice red flags in someone’s behaviour, don’t hesitate to step back and reconsider. Itโ€™s perfectly okay to be cautious, and your safety should always come first. Some common red flags to watch out for include someone who pressures you for personal information too quickly, exhibits controlling behaviour, or seems overly eager to meet up without getting to know you first. If anything feels wrong, trust your gut and take a step back to reassess.

4) Keep Communication Public

In the early stages of online dating, itโ€™s wise to keep your conversations on the dating platform or through messaging apps that donโ€™t reveal your personal phone number. This extra layer of security allows you to maintain privacy while youโ€™re still getting to know the person. It also provides a clear boundary between your personal life and online interactions, giving you more control over how much you’re sharing.

5) Meet in Safe Public Spaces

When you’re ready to meet in person, always choose a public setting. Opt for places like a coffee shop, a restaurant, or a park, where there are other people around. Public spaces are ideal because they offer a safer environment for both of you to get to know each other without unnecessary risks. Always inform a trusted friend or family member about your plans, including where you’re meeting, who you’re meeting, and any other details for extra peace of mind. Let them know when you plan to check in or return home as an added layer of safety.

As an organization dedicated to ending violence in all its forms, BWSS stands in solidarity with victims and survivors. For resources on safety, accessing support, and taking action against gender-based violence, visit our website.

You are not alone.

If you or someone you love is in need of support, please contact the Battered Women’s Support Services Crisis Line:

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868 Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867 Email: EndingViolence@bwss.org

Canadian Government Eliminates Minister for Women and Gender Equality Amid United Nations Womensโ€™ Rights Summit

Mar 15, 2025 | Battered Women's Support Services

New York UNHQ – ย  It is unacceptable that the new Canadian Prime Minister has eliminated the position of Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth (WAGE) in his newly announced cabinet. This regressive step undermines decades of progress toward gender equality and political representation in Canada. Even in a lean cabinet, which purports to be responding to specific economic pressures, the absence of this dedicated minister sends a troubling message about the current government’s priorities and commitment to advancing rights for intergenerational women,ย  2SLGBTQIIA+ people and gender equality at large. A strong economy demands that we invest in feminist policies, like healthcare, pharmacare, childcare, the national action plan to end gender based violence, and so much more. Gender equality is not an afterthought; it is the backbone of a strong economy and resilient society.

WAGE must retain a dedicated cabinet position. Consolidating these responsibilities into a broader portfolio undermines the focus, expertise, and resources required to tackle systemic issues effectively. Simply put, it will not work. Gender equality demands dedicated leadership, accountability, and sustained attentionโ€”none of which can be adequately achieved when it is treated as an afterthought within a larger, unrelated ministry.

This move, dismantling the national machinery for womenโ€™s rights and gender equality, has far-reaching implications. This decision comes amid a broader international backlash on women and gender rights, with countries rolling back protections and support structures. We are also deeply concerned about the deprioritization of the young feminist portfolio. This pushes young feminists in Canada back into the footnotes of decision-making, ripping away a hard-won seat at the table when it is most critical.

This week 189 countries, including Canada, are reviewing 30 years of progress on women’s advancement. The removal of this cabinet position is a betrayal of the principles outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which Canada has long supported. Furthermore, it contradicts the spirit of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and the ongoing efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQIIA+ people.

The removal of this cabinet position is not just a symbolic loss; it has real-world implications for millions of women and gender-diverse people and workers in Canada who rely on the government to protect their rights and advance their interests. Furthermore, Canada’s commitment to womenโ€™s rights, equality and full participation in society depends on this departmentโ€™s sustained funding, policy making and accountability measures.

It is imperative that the Prime Minister reconsider this decision and reinstate a dedicated Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth to ensure that these critical issues remain at the forefront of Canada’s political agenda. People in Canada do not have to choose between the economy and critical social priorities.

We, the undersigned, demand better.

Pour diffusion immรฉdiate
14 mars 2025

Le gouvernement canadien supprime le poste de ministre des Femmes et ร‰galitรฉ des genres pendant quโ€™un sommet des Nations Unies sur les droits des femmes se dรฉroule.

Siรจge de l’ONU, New York – Il est inacceptable que le nouveau Premier ministre canadien ait supprimรฉ le poste de ministre des Femmes et ร‰galitรฉ des genres et de la Jeunesse (FEGC) dans son cabinet nouvellement annoncรฉ. Cette mesure rรฉgressive sape des dรฉcennies de progrรจs vers l’รฉgalitรฉ des genres et la reprรฉsentation politique au Canada. Mรชme dans un cabinet restreint, censรฉ rรฉpondre ร  des pressions รฉconomiques spรฉcifiques, l’absence de ce ministre dรฉdiรฉ envoie un message troublant sur les prioritรฉs du gouvernement actuel et son engagement ร  faire progresser les droits des femmes intergรฉnรฉrationnelles, des personnes 2ELGBTQIIA+ et l’รฉgalitรฉ des genres en gรฉnรฉral. Une รฉconomie forte exige que nous investissions dans des politiques fรฉministes, comme les soins de santรฉ, l’assurance mรฉdicaments, la garde d’enfants, le plan d’action national pour mettre fin ร  la violence fondรฉe sur le genre, et bien plus encore. L’รฉgalitรฉ des genres n’est pas une rรฉflexion a posteriori ; c’est l’รฉpine dorsale d’une รฉconomie forte et d’une sociรฉtรฉ rรฉsiliente.

FEGC doit conserver un poste dรฉdiรฉ au cabinet. La consolidation de ces responsabilitรฉs dans un portefeuille plus large compromet l’attention, l’expertise et les ressources nรฉcessaires pour s’attaquer efficacement aux problรจmes systรฉmiques. En termes simples, cela ne fonctionnera pas. L’รฉgalitรฉ des genres exige un leadership dรฉdiรฉ, une responsabilitรฉ et une attention soutenue – rien de tout cela ne peut รชtre adรฉquatement rรฉalisรฉ lorsqu’elle est traitรฉe comme une rรฉflexion a posteriori au sein d’un ministรจre plus large et sans rapport.

Cette dรฉcision, qui dรฉmantรจle le mรฉcanisme national pour les droits des femmes et l’รฉgalitรฉ des genres, a des implications de grande portรฉe. Elle intervient dans un contexte plus large de rรฉaction internationale contre les droits des femmes et l’รฉgalitรฉ des genres, avec des pays qui reviennent sur les protections et les structures de soutien. Nous sommes รฉgalement profondรฉment prรฉoccupรฉs par la dรฉprioritisation du portefeuille des jeunes fรฉministes. Cela relรจgue les jeunes fรฉministes au Canada au second plan dans les prises de dรฉcision, leur arrachant une place durement gagnรฉe ร  la table au moment le plus critique.

Cette semaine, 189 pays, dont le Canada, examinent 30 ans de progrรจs en matiรจre d’avancement des femmes. La suppression de ce poste au cabinet est une trahison des principes รฉnoncรฉs dans la Dรฉclaration et le Programme d’action de Beijing, que le Canada a longtemps soutenus. De plus, cela contredit l’esprit de la Politique d’aide internationale fรฉministe du Canada et les efforts en cours pour rรฉsoudre la crise des femmes autochtones disparues et assassinรฉes et des personnes 2ELGBTQIIA+.

La suppression de ce poste au cabinet n’est pas seulement une perte symbolique ; elle a des implications concrรจtes pour des millions de femmes, de personnes de diverses identitรฉs de genre et de travailleuses au Canada qui comptent sur le gouvernement pour protรฉger leurs droits et faire avancer leurs intรฉrรชts. De plus, l’engagement du Canada envers les droits des femmes, l’รฉgalitรฉ des genres et la pleine participation ร  la sociรฉtรฉ dรฉpend du financement soutenu, de l’รฉlaboration de politiques et des mesures de responsabilisation de ce ministรจre.

Il est impรฉratif que le Premier ministre reconsidรจre cette dรฉcision et rรฉtablisse un ministre dรฉdiรฉ aux Femmes et ร‰galitรฉ des genres et ร  la Jeunesse pour s’assurer que ces questions cruciales restent au premier plan de l’agenda politique du Canada.

Les personnes au Canada n’ont pas ร  choisir entre l’รฉconomie et les prioritรฉs sociales critiques.

Nous, les soussignรฉes, exigeons mieux.

Media Contact/Contact pour les mรฉdias

Anuradha Dugal – Womenโ€™s Shelters Canada

514-994-6804

adugal@endvaw.ca

 

Jackie Neapole – Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW-ICREF)

613-619-1961

jackie@criaw-icref.ca

ONS
Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah – Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights

647-718-5872

debbie@actioncanadashr.org

SIGNATORIESย 

โ€˜Ksan Society
AccesBC Campaign for Free Prescription Contraception in BC
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
Ann Pederson
Association Quรฉbรฉcoise de coopรฉration internationale
Aura Freedom
Aura Freedom International
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH)V
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria Capital Region
BizKids Practical Education ASSN
BWSS Battered Womenโ€™s Support Services Association
Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty
Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform (CASWLR)
Canadian Association for Girls in Science (CAGIS)
Canadian Center for Womenโ€™s Empowerment
Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
Canadian Womenโ€™s Foundation
Centrale des syndicats du Quรฉbec
CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women)
Child Care Now
Choice in Health Clinic
Circle Community LandTrust
City for All Women Initiative (CAWI)
DAWN Canada
Dr. Amanda Dale โ€“ Womenโ€™s Rights Institute; Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa
Elementary Teachersโ€™ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
Elizabeth Fry Society of Northeastern Ontario
Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa
Elizabeth Fry Society of Quebec
Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka
Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVABC)
Fรฉdรฉration des maisons dโ€™hรฉbergement pour femmes
Fรฉdรฉration interprofessionelle de la santรฉ du Quรฉbec
Flemingdon Health Centre
Fora: Network for Change
Gรฉnรฉration Cinq
Global Women in STEM
Haida Gwaii Society for Community Peace
Huronia Transition Homes
Inter Pares
Interval House of Ottawa
Kootenai Community Centre Society โ€“ Creston, BC
Lakehead University Student Union
Maama Watali
Manitoulin Family Resources
Martha Paynter โ€“ Director of Research at Wellness Within
Medical Herstory
Migrant Workers Centre BC
Minerva Foundation for BC Women
Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services
National Association of Women and the Law / Association nationale Femmes et Droit
Nelson Community Services
New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity
Northern Society for Domestic Peace, BC
Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses
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Understanding Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

Mar 12, 2025 | Battered Women's Support Services

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence is any form of sexual assault that takes place within an intimate relationship.

It includes not only marital rape, but all other forms of sexual assault that take place within a current or former intimate relationship, whether the partners are married or not.

IPSV involves using force, threats, or coercion to obtain sex or sexual acts; shaming a womanโ€™s sexuality or sexual preferences; and/or not respecting a womanโ€™s sexual or physical privacy.

In a relationship in which IPSV is present, sexual violence is used to gain power and control over a partner.

IPSV includes but is not limited to the following:
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coerced or forced oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse
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violent sex (physical abuse before, during, or after sex)
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forced participation in group sex, or sex with another person, or sex with partner watching or in front of children
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unwanted sexual touching or being forced to touch
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making degrading sexual taunts
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forced involvement in making or watching pornography
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sexual exploitation
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use of technology to victimize
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using sex to prove faithfulness
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withholding affection if sexual demands are not met

While most IPSV takes place in relationships where additional forms of violence are present, IPSV does occur in relationships not characterized by other violence.

IPSV often occurs repeatedly within a relationship:

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In a 2010 survey, 80% of survivors accessing BWSS services reported they had been sexually assaulted by their partners. IPSV can be a serious risk factor for domestic homicide: A physically-abused woman who is also experiencing sexual violence was more than seven times more likely than other abused women to be killed.
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The presence of physical abuse, pregnancy, illness, and attempting to leave or being separated or divorced from a partner are all associated with higher levels of IPSV.
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IPSV can be present in same-gender/same-sex relationships. One study found that 70% of lesbians indicated experiencing incidents of IPSV. Partners may threaten to โ€˜outโ€™ their partners if sexual demands are not met. Lesbian and trans women experiencing IPSV face additional barriers in seeking support because of the erroneous belief that SV cannot exist in same gender/same-sex relationships.

IPSV carries with it the same impacts as domestic violence and sexual violence.

However, because it rests at the intersection of both of these forms of violence, it also involves a number of unique impacts:

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Difficulty defining the act(s) as sexual assault:

Women are socialized to see rape as involving non-consensual sex between two strangers. Additionally, women may be reluctant to define a partner she loves as a โ€˜rapist.โ€™ For these and other reasons, a woman experiencing IPSV may have trouble naming her experience as one of sexual assault. This difficulty in identifying an experience as sexual assault can increase the severity of many of the additional impacts.
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Higher levels of anal and oral rape:

Incidents of IPSV appear to be characterized by higher levels of anal and oral rape. These forms of assault are seen as strategies partner perpetrators use to humiliate, punish, and take โ€˜fullโ€™ ownership of their partners.
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Higher levels of physical injury:

While not all sexual assaults include additional physical violence beyond sexual violence, those that do involve injury are likely to be intimate partner sexual assaults. Because IPSV victims experience repeated abuse, the likelihood of physical injury and trauma increases.
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Higher incidence of multiple sexual assaults:

Leaving a relationship, it is important that safety IPSV often occurs repeatedly in a relationship, issues are considered in light of the presence of and IPSV survivors suffer the highest frequency of multiple sexual assaults. This experience of repeated assaults differentiates IPSV from sexual assault perpetrated by a stranger and carries unique consequences for healing and impacts.
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Longer-lasting trauma:

Despite the common assumption that IPSV does not hold as severe an impact as sexual assault by a stranger, research indicates that the trauma resulting from IPSV can in fact be longer lasting and more severe. In part, this is because IPSV survivors face unique challenges around recognizing and naming an act as sexual assault, as well as increased barriers and reluctance to tell others and seek support.
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Advice to โ€˜put up withโ€™ sexual assault and other forms of secondary wounding:

The commonly held misconception that sexual assault within an intimate relationship is not sexual assault holds a number of repercussions for IPSV survivors who may reach out for help. Marital rape survivors are prone to be advised by church, family, or friends that it is their โ€œwifely dutyโ€ to submit to sex with a partner. Similarly, IPSV survivors may face criticism, judgement, or not be taken seriously by police, the legal system or other service providers who continue to perpetuate erroneous beliefs around IPSV and SV in general.
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Financial dependency:

Perpetrators of IPSV may use a womanโ€™s financial dependency to engage in coercive sexual assault. Furthermore, by using various strategies to further compromise a womanโ€™s independence (i.e. not permitting her any money or employment), a perpetrator may further entrench his ability to engage in sexually violent behaviours.
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A general climate of sexual assault:

Women living with IPSV may face a host of other behaviours than rape that would not be acceptable if committed by strangers, such as their breasts being hurt, being forced to touch the perpetrator sexually, and degrading name calling.
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Potential Fatality:

Women who experience sexual assault in addition to physical violence are at a higher risk for homicide than women who are physically abused but not raped. Furthermore, because women are at an increased risk when leaving a relationship, it is important that safety issues are considered in light of the presence of IPSV.
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Deliberately Inflicted Pregnancy or STIs:

Women experiencing IPSV may face the additional impact of unwanted or deliberately inflicted pregnancy in which men rape to impregnate their partners in order to force them to remain in or return to the relationship.
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Self-blame & Shame:

Women may experience intense self-blame and shame for a variety of reasons unique to IPSV.
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Psychological Effects, including shame and confusion:

Women experiencing IPSV often carry a variety of psychological effects including depression, suicide, PTSD, anxiety, fear, self- blame, low self-esteem, and guilt. Additionally, women survivors of IPSV may experience intense self-blame, shame, and confusion.
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Confusion:

Women may struggle with confusion in a number of ways unique to IPSV.

If women are not able to name or label their experience as sexual assault they are less likely to view the impacts they are experiencing as related to the sexual violence: โ€œbecause they were sexually assaulted or abused by an intimate partner, they frequently donโ€™t identify as victims of rape or sexual assault, yet they are experiencing emotions as a survivor of sexual assault.โ€

Survivors of IPSV may experience confusion that is rooted in their inability to trust their own judgement, the sense of betrayal they feel at their partner, or societal beliefs that repeatedly deny her experience as one of sexual violence.

As an organization dedicated to ending violence in all its forms, BWSS stands in solidarity with victims and survivors. For resources on safety, accessing support, and taking action against gender-based violence, visit our website.

You are not alone.

If you or someone you love is in need of support, please contact the Battered Women’s Support Services Crisis Line:

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868 Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867 Email: EndingViolence@bwss.org