Article Violence knows no gender

Existential fear

But there is also too much shame. This is the case when someone is flooded with feelings of shame. Anyone who has made a mistake then feels that they themselves are a mistake.
This state of existential fear is also known as traumatic shame.
Distressing feelings of shame can remain if protective (physical and emotional) boundaries have been violated. For example, when intimate details from private life became public. Or when borders are drastically violated, for example through rape or torture.

This form of shame is a hurdle: Those who are ashamed of having been victimized are unlikely to ask for the help they need. This is where the new awareness-raising campaign by Basel Victim Support comes in. “Violence knows no gender” is aimed at everyone who is affected by violence.
Women, men, non-binary people – all can become victims, all can be exposed to shame and all can experience how the shame of those affected is reinforced by the social perpetrator-victim reversal.

The campaign uses three slogans:

• “Because you don’t have to be ashamed”
• “Because you can be vulnerable”
• “Because you can get help”

Men can be vulnerable too
The campaign is aimed specifically at men. They are also vulnerable and are entitled to help. Even today, many men find it difficult to admit this. Many crimes go unreported and the number of unreported cases is correspondingly high. This is also shown by the official figures: In Switzerland, 75% of offenders and 56% of all victims of crime are male.
However, male victims only account for 30% of cases at the victim counseling centers.

Switzerland’s Victim Assistance Act, introduced over 30 years ago, is an important instrument. All people affected by violence are allowed to seek help and have a right to it – women, men and non-binary people.
This means that victims can be given back the dignity that was taken from them as a result of a crime.

Dossier on “Violence knows no gender”

Opferhilfe beider Basel has compiled a dossier on the topic of “Violence knows no gender”.
It contains further contributions, interviews and background articles.
Campaign material can also be obtained free of charge.

The campaign includes posters, short animations and cards in which the viewers themselves can take action and make the hidden sentences visible.
Through this action, the topic of violence has an influence on the visual appearance of the campaign without having to resort to classic imagery, as this often only appeals to a specific target group and violence is depicted in a very explicit way, excluding forms of violence that are not always visually tangible.

A QR code on the posters and cards leads to this page with contributions, interviews and background articles on the topic.

Are you interested in the campaign material? Please get in touch.