The issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) forms part of domestic violence. Such a challenge is common in most societies, and the critical issues linked to increased IPV include social, cultural, political, and economic factors. This paper will explore how these factors have impacted the trend of IPV in Canada and what the government and Canadians are doing to address the emerging challenges. By drawing from different reviews of Canadian literature and linking the variables to the rate of domestic violence, it will be possible to make substantive conclusions on the trends that need to be followed. Such a review approach will make the audience understand how racial, social, cultural, political, and economic factors form the interconnected dynamics that shape IPV in Canada.
The issue of IPV in Canada is rooted in social, cultural, political, and economic contexts. Addressing the challenge will have to start with changing these dynamics or enlightening the public on their rights and the measures they need to take to avoid falling victim. Understanding the social challenges Canadians face at the domestic level will allow one to determine suitable approaches for addressing the current and emerging IPV issues (Tran, n.d.). As such, the paper tries to solve and address the existing research gaps connected to the issue of IPV and its connection to the identified variables, thus offering policymakers a chance to approach the challenge from a more realistic perspective and hence recommending reliable and long-term solutions. Domestic violence can be considered a pervasive issue that should be associated with communities that have not been enlightened about their rights. Still, it is evident that such a social problem is manifested even in developed and developing countries.
The issue of IPV in Canada is prevalent and needs to be addressed. Policymakers need to understand that the main population that has been impacted is women, as they account for 44% of the reported cases as victims. Such women are aged 15 or older and have experienced at least a one-time incident of IPV in their intimate partner relationships. Also, every week, women are reported to have been murdered in what is reported as an IPV incident (Tran, n.d.). The government indicates that women are four times more likely to fall victim to IPV compared to men, and this means that mitigation programs have to consider ladies as the weaker and more vulnerable gender. Also, women categorized under the poor, LGBTQ+, women with disabilities, Indigenous, and minorities have a higher risk of IPV.
Indigenous women account for 61% of ladies who experience or have experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15 (Government of Canada, 2021). When compared to non-Indigenous women (44%), it becomes clear that the issue of race plays a prominent role in this case. That is how racial, social, cultural, political, and economic factors play a role in this trend, particularly considering that indigenous groups are discriminated against and do not have equal access to economic opportunities. In such communities, the standards of male dominance are practiced, and this forms part of the culture that the victims of IPV have consistently embraced and consider normal.
The majority of poor women are vulnerable to PIV, mainly due to their inability to raise a sustainable income and be independent. They must depend on their men, who can be violent and aggressive, a dominant challenge that must be addressed. For instance, in 2022, 184 girls and women were killed by their male partners, and this statistic represents an average of one victim every two days (Canadian Women’s Foundation, 2021). The impact of IPV is not only on women or the victims but also on other parties, such as children and older adults who depend on the affected individuals. As such, addressing the challenge must start with enabling women to gain economic independence, as this is the proper foundation for creating a better, reliable, and inclusive approach to solving the current and emerging challenges.
What are the interconnected racial, social, cultural, political, and economic factors that contribute to the prevalence of IPV in Canada?”
The researcher hypothesizes a complex interplay between racial, social, cultural, political, and economic factors that results in IPV in Canada. In particular, the main issues that result from this trend include social and racial inequality that limits indigenous groups from accessing economic opportunities, the practice of gender roles, political structures, and cultural norms. Suppose these variables are understood and applied in the context of IPV. In that case, it will be possible to gain valuable insights into the root causes of the unwanted trend and the key determinants of success that need to be observed.
The existing literature on domestic violence, particularly IPV in Canada, has left some unanswered questions that shall be addressed in this paper. The focus will not be on gender-based violence but on the intersectionality of factors like racial, social, cultural, political, and economic variables. The link between race and access to economic opportunities will be considered, and the current trends in the challenge will be considered.
The paper will focus on a review of current literature as the primary approach for data collection. The researcher will have to filter the research articles to a maximum of seven years to establish consistency for the trend that IPV in Canada has been taking. Such an approach will enable a link between the racial, economic, and social statuses of the victims of IPV and what measures need to be used to ascertain the required level of consistency in solving the challenges that have been manifested. The primary inclusive criteria will focus on Canadian-based sources, and the publications must be formal and authentic for research purposes.
The results indicate a correlation between socio-economic factors as they can be used to explain the differences in IPV rates among racial groups. The indigenous population is the primary affected group, for the majority of black Canadian women who face IPV lack the necessary financial ability to cater to their maturing obligations (Duhaney, 2021). Also, the vice is common among indigenous women who have a risk or who experience adverse mental and psychological outcomes like depression, anxiety, fear, and low self-esteem. These issues are influenced by the individuals’ racial, social, cultural, political, and economic variables, and that is why these factors play a significant role in enhancing the issue of domestic violence. When women are weak in terms of caring for themselves and have to depend on men, they become possible victims of abuse and some content with the situation because, in some cases, it is a tradition to obey men and follow orders. That is why these patterns are considered interconnected and correlate with the dynamics of determining or shaping the issue of IPV in the Canadian context.
The issue of femicide in Canada has remained relatively high among the vulnerable populations. Considering that men in indigenous communities still practice gendered roles, women are constantly exposed to the challenges associated with IPV, and this is a trend that needs to be mitigated. Apart from the challenge of racial injustices that have impacted black and indigenous women, the disproportionate access to economic, social, and political opportunities has also meant that they will continually remain on the receiving end in terms of domestic violence (Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, 2023). When women have to depend on men for their living in terms of provision, they become a subject of victimization and various issues of oppression. The trend of their problems will remain relatively high until the challenges they face are amicably addressed.
The cultural factors that impact the quality of life among Canadian women from minority groups and immigrants are linked to the social and economic dynamics (Holtmann & Rickards, 2018). For instance, their culture dictates that they must respect and be submissive to their husbands. Such practices expose women to oppression and injustices, and in some cases, they are content with the situation and never report it. Such observed social and economic trends impact the local level dynamics and can influence the quality of life of women from vulnerable communities.
The research makes one understand the role of racial, social, cultural, political, and economic factors in shaping the issue of intimate partner violence. The study has shown that women are on the receiving end, as they are the majority of victims. Once the interconnected nature of these influences is determined, it becomes possible for policymakers and advocates of change to engage and make informed decisions toward empowering vulnerable groups to mitigate IPV-related issues. This research will contribute to a broader issue of domestic violence by offering a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the factors that can result in IPV in the Canadian context.
Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability. (2023). #CallItFemicide: Understanding sex/gender-related killings of women and girls in Canada, 2018-2022. https://femicideincanada.ca/callitfemicide2018-2022.pdf
Canadian Women’s Foundation. (2021, October 29). Gender-Based Violence in Canada. Canadian Women’s Foundation. https://canadianwomen.org/the-facts/gender-based-violence/
Duhaney, P. (2021). Criminalized black women’s experiences of intimate partner violence in Canada. Violence against Women, 28(11), 107780122110357. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012211035791
Government of Canada. (2021, March 31). Fact sheet: Intimate partner violence. Women-Gender-Equality.canada.ca. https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/gender-based-violence/intimate-partner-violence.html
Holtmann, C., & Rickards, T. (2018). Domestic/intimate partner violence in the lives of immigrant women: A New Brunswick response. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 109(3), 294–302. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-018-0056-3
Tran, C. (n.d.). POLICY BRIEF Ending Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence in Canada. https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/FEWO/Brief/BR11643004/br-external/ArmaghHouse-WEB-Brief-10588690-e.pdf