GENDER SOCIO-CULTURAL NORMS AS A DETERMINANT OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR: ANALYSIS OF CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS AND MECHANISMS OF LEVELING

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the impact of gender sociocultural norms, expressed in a set of expectations, rules and stereotypes that associate certain qualities, roles and behavior with a person's biological sex, on manifestations of violent behavior and the occurrence of violence in general. On the basis of theoretical concepts and empirical data, the cause-and-effect relationships between gender stereotypes and violence, including those arising in armed conflicts, are analyzed. Research has established that patriarchal norms, which determine the traditional roles of men and women, create a favorable environment for the manifestation of aggression and violence. Particular attention is paid to how stereotypes of masculinity and femininity can shape aggressive behavior patterns. Special attention when writing this study is paid to how gender stereotypes increase the risks of sexual violence in the context of armed conflicts. The article also identified mechanisms that can help eliminate gender stereotypes and reduce the level of violence. It was concluded that gender socio-cultural norms, which determine the roles, expectations and behavior of men and women, create a favorable environment for the manifestation of violent actions. Patriarchal norms that give men a dominant role and justify the use of physical force are among the most common risk factors for violence. The conducted research revealed a number of mechanisms that can contribute to eliminating gender stereotypes and reducing the level of violence in society: the implementation of educational programs in schools and universities, which will be aimed at changing gender roles, involving men in the fight against violence by eliminating the influence of toxic masculinity on the formation of patriarchal roles, strengthening the position of women in society and creating an appropriate regulatory basis aimed at protecting victims of violence, its prevention and prevention. In addition, violence is the result of the interaction of individual and social factors. Gender norms create the social context that facilitates violence, but individual characteristics such as personality, experience and mental health also play an important role.