What does GBV have to do with Disability?
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) are shockingly common in today’s world. We’ve been offered windows into this hurt through the Me Too Movement and the Red Dress Movement. However, we rarely stop to consider how disability amplifies these issues. 1 in 5 Canadians report having at least one disability and studies have shown that women with disabilities experience abuse more frequently and for longer periods than women without disabilities and men with or without disabilities (1, 2). More than half of women with disabilities experience IPV in their late teen and adult years, compared to only 1 in 3 women who don’t have a disability (3). These numbers increase for women who have cognitive or mental-health related disabilities, and for those who have severe or multiple disabilities (4). Common forms of abuse experienced by this population include psychological, physical, sexual, and financial abuse (5, 6, 7). Women with disabilities report feeling trapped in abusive relationships for many reasons including dependence on their partner for financial support or physical care, and lack of accessible domestic violence services or accessible transport to these services (8).
As of 2024, there’s little to no research in Canada exploring experiences of GBV or IPV among the disabled 2SLGBTQIA+ Community. This is an area that needs attention. However, we can reason based on other research of GBV and minority groups that disabled persons in this community would experience high rates of GBV (9).
Why Does This Happen?
There are many possible reasons why GBV increases for people who have disabilities. One theory that’s been offered suggests women with disabilities, particularly those with lifelong or chronic disabilities, have been trained over time to be compliant and agreeable to receive the care they need (10, 11). This need to accommodate becomes internalized and creates environments that allow the caregiver’s power to be exploited (12, 13). Women with disabilities may face structural barriers to leaving abusive relationships that women who don’t have disabilities may not face. For example, education and employment are statistically less available to people with disabilities, resulting in greater reliance on their romantic partner for financial stability and housing (14, 15). Disabled people are often isolated from the general public (for example, in a group-living home), and may require support to access transportation services (16, 17). These factors make accessing GBV support services more difficult. Additionally, GBV & IPV services are often ill-equipped to assist persons with disability (18, 19). Education of GBV support staff is needed to reduce stigmas surrounding disability and to increase collaboration and accessibility of services (20).
What Can We Do About It?
Perhaps the most important thing we can do for disabled persons who report abuse is believe them. Disabled people, especially those with cognitive or mental-health related disabilities, are frequently dismissed when they report abuse, even though false disclosures are rare (21). We should train service providers to offer services with collaborative approaches between disability services and GBV/IPV support services (22). Support should be carried out with a person-centered approach, ensuring complete information is presented in ways the individual can easily understand so they can make fully-informed decisions (23). Finally, women and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons with disabilities should be involved in the creation and administration of services (24). Ultimately, these are the people who know best what they, themselves, need.
GBV impacts people with disabilities at much higher rates than people without disabilities. We need to ensure that people with disabilities have access to support services, that these services are designed to accommodate their needs, and that we believe them when they disclose abuse.