Summary and Conclusion

This Annal had articles written by various experts on different facets of violence—sexual violence, female genital mutilation, cyberviolence, cultural beliefs and domestic violence, international sexual harassment—just to name a few of the topics covered. It was remarkable how much information there was to share and the high degree of competence that many colleagues have to write with authority on this issue. It was a testament also to how much research and scholarship have emerged in this area. As these articles have shown, violence is a global problem affecting women and girls everywhere. Women still remain the primary victims of violence, and are more subject than are men to physical, sexual, and psychological abuse at home, in their communities, and in the workplace (Hays & Farhar, 2000). Girls, specifically, are subject to such discriminatory practices as female genital mutilation, son preference, diminished educational opportunities and job training, kidnapping, sexual exploitation, and so on. (Hays & Farhar, 2000). The United Nations has identified gender-based violence against women as a global health and economic development issue (United Nations Population Fund, 2000). This problem cannot be viewed in simplistic terms but rather must be conceptualized within a broader, social framework. Individual acts of violence are inexcusable and should not be tolerated. However, each one is but a reflection of a larger, systemic issue, which is confronting our society. Each is a result of a complex network of interrelated factors operating at both personal and social levels. Therefore, the next challenge is to produce a general, more encompassing construction through which to analyze violence. There has been an evolution in the way in which we, as psychologists, have looked at violence. Contemporary theories now do not blame the victim, as was the case in early research on the violence against women. Previously, violence against women was viewed as a consequence of something that was the woman’s fault. It occurred because women were doing something wrong. They were often blamed for not leaving the violent environment, in the case of domestic violence, for example. Violent acts were also seen as isolated and unrelated incidents when they occurred. Rape, for instance, was seen as a sexual act and not a manifestation of aggression, coercion, and power. There was little