ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to prove how the many forms of physical and sexual gender-based violence, control and deprecation are interlinked, by analysing their historical backgrounds. Aggressive feelings are a part of humanity, but the related assumptions regarding gender-appropriate behaviour and the acceptability or objectionability of violence are culturally and historically constructed. Gender-based violence forms a complex web of problems that is interlaced with historically constructed expectations of appropriate male and female behaviour. Drawing attention to the structural nature of the violence experienced by women for historical reasons is a central objective of feminist research, but 'over-emphasis on female victimhood may perpetuate older stereotypes of women as inherently vulnerable and in need of protection. The starting point for feminist research is that inequality and interpersonal violence are usually not caused simply by the actions of individuals: both perpetration and victimization are influenced by society's gendered structures and the imbalance of power.
