The Overlooked Harm of Psychological Violence: How Legal Gaps Perpetuate Ignorance and Injustice

Omschrijving

This thesis addresses the limited literature on psychological violence and its relationship to femicide, specifically focusing on Dutch legislation aimed at preventing such violence. Through  a literature review and  interviews with  six  experts in  gender-based  violence, this study  examines how current Dutch  legislation  serves (or fails to  serve) victims of psychological violence and  suggests ways to  improve justice for these individuals. Applying  Martha Nussbaum’s partial capability  theory  of justice,  grounded  in  the capabilities approach,  the study  argues that Dutch  legislation  inadequately  protects the central human  capabilities women  need  to  live a dignified  life,  such  as being  able to be safe,  autonomous and  to  use one’s senses,  imagination,  and  thought.  The current legal framework, which overlooks some destructive forms of psychological violence and limits the definition  of femicide to  physical murder,  fails to  address the full scope of harm inflicted by (ex-)partner violence.

The   thesis   proposes   two   main   improvements:   (i)   criminalizing   psychological violence and (ii) implementing language that recognizes the severe impact of psychological violence by introducing the concept of social femicide. By increasing the recognition of these  harms,  Dutch  legislation  could  better  profeet  victims  and  help  them  escape  and recover from abusive relationships.
Despite  its  valuable  insights,  the  study  has  limitations,  including  a small  sample size of interviewed experts and the need for further development of the concept of social femicide.  Future  research  should  adopt  intersectional  and  gender-sensitive  approaches to better understand the diverse challenges faced by victims of psychological violence. Additionally, this thesis calls for a broader examination of how Dutch policy can also support the capabilities of men, as they, too, are affected by societal norms and gender expectations.  Ultimately,  this  work  aims  to  inspire  policymakers  to  consider  these recommendations,  promote  awareness  of  psychological  violence,  and  take  steps  toward preventing it from escalating into (social)femicide.