16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Every year, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence reminds us of something we often overlook: violence is not always loud, visible, or physical. Sometimes it is woven quietly into everyday life — in the decisions women are expected to make, the silence they are told to keep, and the emotional labour they are asked to carry without recognition.

Across communities in India and Kenya, many women navigate reproductive journeys shaped by deep cultural expectations, unequal power, and limited access to supportive care. These experiences are not isolated events; they are interconnected moments that influence how women feel about their bodies, their choices, and their identities as partners, mothers, daughters, and caregivers.

From pregnancy and childbirth to loss, postpartum mental health, and early parenting, women often face forms of harm that go unseen — pressures disguised as tradition, neglect disguised as normal, and emotional pain dismissed as something they must endure quietly.

As we honour the 16 Days of Activism, it is essential to look closely at the subtle, deeply personal forms of violence that shape reproductive experiences. The following themes capture what many women encounter in the private spaces of homes, clinics, and relationships: a web of coercion, shame, silencing, reproductive pressure, and emotional harm that affects not just their bodies, but their wellbeing, autonomy, and sense of self.

1. Coercion

Across both regions, many women are pressured into reproductive decisions they did not freely choose—whether to become pregnant quickly after marriage, to avoid contraception, or to continue childbearing until a family’s expectations are satisfied. Partner control, family pressure, and community norms can make it difficult for women to say “no,” even in situations where their body, health, or future plans are at stake. When choice is taken away, reproductive life becomes a burden instead of a personal journey.

2. Shame

Shame is often used to police women’s bodies and silence their needs. Those who experience miscarriage, infertility, or abortion may carry heavy emotional pain made worse by social stigma. Girls who become pregnant outside marriage are often blamed or judged, and survivors of sexual violence are made to feel responsible for the harm they endured. Shame creates isolation where support is needed most and discourages women from seeking care or speaking openly about their experiences.

3. Silencing

Women’s pain is frequently dismissed as “normal,” “exaggerated,” or “best kept within the family.” Many are encouraged not to question partners, not to challenge harmful cultural expectations, and not to talk about traumatic childbirth, sexual assault, or postpartum depression. In both countries, the expectation to maintain family honour, respect marital roles, or avoid “causing trouble” often results in women carrying emotional wounds quietly and alone.

4. Denial of Care

Access to respectful reproductive healthcare remains uneven, particularly for those in rural communities or from marginalised backgrounds. Women may face long distances to clinics, unaffordable costs, judgment from providers, or outright refusal of care—especially young, unmarried, or economically dependent women. These barriers can turn manageable health needs into crises, increasing the risks of complications during pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and untreated emotional distress.

5. Reproductive Pressure

Motherhood is celebrated, but often as an expectation rather than a choice. Many women feel pressure to conceive immediately after marriage or to continue having children to meet family or cultural expectations. The value of a woman is still tied to her ability to bear children, and infertility—regardless of cause—is often seen as her personal failing. This pressure creates emotional strain, resentment, and a profound sense of inadequacy for women who are not ready, not willing, or not able to conceive.

6. Medical Neglect

Overburdened health systems, rushed consultations, and lack of sensitivity in medical settings often leave women feeling unheard or mistreated. Verbal abuse during labour, inadequate information about procedures, and dismissive attitudes towards women’s pain are common experiences. Some are left unattended during childbirth; others are sent home too soon. Postpartum mental health issues are rarely acknowledged or supported, leaving many women to navigate trauma alone.

7. Harmful Expectations

Caregiving is often treated as a woman’s duty rather than shared responsibility. Stay-at-home mothers carry an enormous invisible workload, yet receive little recognition or emotional support. Working mothers are judged for “dividing” their attention, while women who choose not to become mothers face misunderstanding or criticism. These expectations create cycles of guilt, burnout, and emotional fatigue, further deepened by limited childcare support and social recognition.

8. Emotional Abuse

Not all violence is physical. Many women face emotional manipulation, criticism, humiliation, or withdrawal of support during pregnancy and postpartum—periods when vulnerability is highest. Some are blamed for complications, miscarriages, or the sex of a baby. Others are controlled through threats, isolation, or constant belittling. Emotional abuse erodes self-confidence, harms mental health, and can impact bonding with a newborn or the overall wellbeing of a family.

In these 16 Days of Activism, we are reminded that gender-based violence is not only found in moments of crisis but also in the quiet, everyday experiences that shape a woman’s reproductive life. Across India and Kenya, women continue to navigate expectations, pressures, and systems that often overlook their voices and minimise their pain.

The subtle harms — coercion, shame, silencing, denial of care, reproductive pressure, medical neglect, harmful expectations, and emotional abuse — are deeply intertwined, shaping how women see themselves and how they are seen by others. These experiences affect not just their bodies, but their autonomy, mental health, relationships, and long-term wellbeing.

Recognising these forms of violence is the first step toward changing them. When we listen to women, believe their experiences, honour their choices, and advocate for respectful care, we create space for healing and dignity.

The journey toward justice begins with acknowledging that every woman deserves safety, compassion, autonomy, and the freedom to make decisions about her body and her life — without fear, judgment, or pressure.

#AmirrahImpact for #WomenEmpowerment