MAINSTREAMING TOOLS — ACTIVITIES

The pyramid of violence and abuse

Author: Intercultural Institute of Timisoara
Team of the Intercultural Institute of Timisoara • iit@intercultural.ro
Issues addressed Bullying, Gender based violence, Inequality
Complexity 2
Group size 5-25
Estimated duration 60 minutes
Objectives
  • To distinguish violent incidents from abuse in a relationship
  • To recognize signs which can indicate risk of abuse in a relationship
  • To discuss different strategies to prevent violent incidents and abuse appropriately
Related thematic chapters The pyramid of violence and abuse

Preparations

Prepare a flipchart sheet with the words "abuse in relationship" on top and places below for writing words on three levels. Label the levels as follows: "psychological violence", "verbal violence" and "physical violence".

Instructions

Step 1 — 20 minutes
Ask participants to think of words that they associate with the concept of violence. Write on an empty sheet of flip-chart paper all the words suggested in the order they are shared. Draw attention of participants that some of the words are about violence and others reflect different forms of violence. Identify a word which expresses physical violence, one expressing verbal violence and one expressing psychological violence. Show the flip-chart sheet prepared in advance with the three levels below the concept of abuse in a relationship and ask participants to categorize the words they suggested with the three types of violence indicated. Ask them to reflect also on additional words which might be relevant to cover different aspects of each type of violence.
Step 2 — 15 minutes
Ask participants to discuss in groups of 4 or 5, based on the words describing different types of violence, the following two issues:
  • when can a relationship be considered as abusive or at risk of becoming abusive?
  • what are the appropriate strategies that those involved in a relationship and their friends should use to prevent abuse from appearing in a relationship?
Step 3 — 10-20 minutes, depending on the number of participants
The results of the groups are shared and discussed in plenary

Debriefing

Ask participants if they perceived disagreements and differences of views compared to the other people in the group. Ask them if in different phases of the activity they were thinking of concrete situations from their own experience, of people close to them, or related to what they read or saw in movies, TV, internet. Ask them also what would be the first thing they would do after this exercise when they see a friend engaged in a relationship presenting risks of degenerating to abuse.

Tested outcomes

The method was inspired by the activity Just once, from Gender matters! publication of the Council of Europe and works well with gender mixed groups of teenagers.

Tips for facilitation

Facilitators should be careful to avoid making some participants who actually experience or experienced abuse feel uncomfortable during the activity. Make it clear that the discussion is in general, not about specific situations.

Potential follow-up

As a follow-up participants can be asked to design together an awareness-raising campaign in their city/neighborhood/school/university about preventing gender-based abuse.

Needed resources

Only flip-chart paper and markers are needed for this activity.

Sources

The chapter on Gender-based violence in Gender matters!, published by the Council of Europe: http://www.eycb.coe.int/gendermatters/chapter_2/1.html#1

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