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“These biases affect all genders including women, men and others in different ways “

 Second-wave of  gender-based bias is continued harm a victim goes through after they report a case or speak up against it. This occurs in the form of vengeance from perpetrators, backlash from the society and in other several forms. 

 With the term gender-based bias, many of us have this preconceived notion of an atrocious act that includes domestic violence, abuse, sexual assault, harassment, or exploitation. However, seeing it from a deeper truth, the violence doesn’t end here for many survivors because this is the second wave, and it is not just physical; it’s emotional, social, and systematic that silences the voices of survivors, discouraging them from thinking things would have been better if they had stayed silent.

There is a question that often runs regarding the second wave of gender-based bias: is it merely for women or does it include other genders as well? Indeed, this form of violence is for all kinds of genders who have had similar experiences of violence that come in several forms.

Many women face bias in  leadership, motherhood penalty and STEM underrepresentation. 

Women are seldom seen as less competent than their male counterparts.  Considered less committed, have fewer promotions and opportunities. 

According to the source GMA News Online, a vlogger and disc jockey was allegedly beaten by her husband, she was seen with a bloodied face and suffered bruises and wounds.

 She has suffered mentally, physically, emotionally and socially even after the incident. She has also been a victim of internet bullying as a picture of her bloodied face went viral over the website. Some public opinion is going against her assuming that what had happened she deserved it.

This shows, even after the incident has passed, the victim continues to suffer and this bitter and subtle truth is often being neglected.

Men are often overlooked for caregiving stigma, emotional suppression and education bias. 

Besides, one of male friends openly expressed his feelings about how male are often judged  or pressured within family, friend circles , and have to hide to cry because he was supposed to be breadwinner of the family, tough,strong and shouldn’t cry. 

Both heterosexual and same sex relationships are sources of  gender violence against male, it can occur at all walks of life. Males are often being attacked  verbally abusing, belittling or humiliating in front of friends, families or relatives by their own partners as per the research covered. Some partners are too possessive, jealous, or harassed too.

From a source found by Mankind Initiative, a man named Sebastian started living together with his partner and she  got pregnant. After four years  of violent abuse, being assaulted ten times, he decided to leave a relationship but his partner threatened him with their son; if he leaves, he could never see son again. 

His got black eyes and his partner often took out  her anger towards him by throwing chairs, turning lights on during sleeping and shouting at him. 

At the end, he left and kept touch with his solicitors regarding custody of the son 

Other genders also face extreme forms of biases; workplace exclusion,  medical biases and legal barriers.

In my personal experience people with different genders are often viewed with stereotypes and cynicism as if they are not part of the same society and nation. I have observed excruciating pain and guilt that they didn’t deserve to carry along.

K. Prithika Yashini was India’s first transgender police officer. Born and raised in Tamilnadu, she was male by birth and identified as female later. In the year 2015, she applied for the position of sub-inspector but got denied, as they accepted only third genders and not the others. Later somehow she fought for her rights, and Madras High Court legally supported her, and she was eligible for the post after going through both written and spoken tests. She was officially appointed and recognized as india’s first transgender sub-inspector of police.

She is one the fewest and rarest examples of people with different genders for voice being heard, however, there are many of them whose rights and voice are not even prioritised and valued. If we observe enough within our community,it is seen and found everywhere.

One of the findings vividly stated that this second wave  is actually a warning sign that our systems are failing; it is putting on a mask in recognizing the real perpetrator, and innocent ones are falling behind the trap hole. 

 Speaking up for one’s rights and protection does not have to come with a new price to pay. We must be part of such a system where the voice of the innocent one gets heard and perpetrators get punished for the crime and ill deed they perform, disregarding the feelings of other people. 

This repeating pattern has to be broken down; it will not if we only keep talking about it but try our possible ways to be part of the violence that ends instead of being the one to continue the pattern.

About the Author

Selena Elizabeth is a passionate writer from Nepal with a deep love for literature. She has been pursuing her university in English and social work. She has been part of storytelling to children for about five years in the social welfare organization called Asha Nepal. She has been to one of the podcasts highlighting the challenges and complexities of young adults who have spent significant time of their lives from family separation in one of Nepal’s leading Media houses called Kantipur.
With a biography called “Searching for Hope” and a collection of short stories to her name, her work touches on the fading beliefs and challenges of the modern world. Through her writing, Selena explores social issues that often go unnoticed, using her words to inspire courage and offer hope