Gender-Based Violence Is More Than Physical Harm: 5 Signs to Watch Out For

Gender-based violence (GBV) is often imagined as bruises, injuries, or physical assault. Yet, countless survivors experience forms of harm that leave no visible marks, only emotional, psychological, and financial scars that can take years to heal. By focusing solely on physical violence, we risk overlooking the quieter, more insidious behaviours that slowly break confidence, autonomy, and safety.

Recognising these subtler forms of abuse is essential. Validation is not only empowering, but it can also be lifesaving. Below are five key signs of non-physical gender-based violence that deserve equal attention and seriousness.

Mental and Emotional Manipulation

Emotional abuse is one of the most pervasive yet least acknowledged forms of GBV. It includes gaslighting, persistent criticism, controlling behaviour, and deliberate attempts to confuse or undermine a person’s sense of reality.

The intention is clear: to make the survivor feel isolated, insecure, and dependent.

Characters like Cecilia Kass in ‘The Invisible Man’ portray how psychological manipulation can be as suffocating as physical violence, while films such as ‘Dear Zindagi’ highlight the emotional exhaustion that builds when someone’s experiences are repeatedly minimised or invalidated.

Digital Harassment and Cyber Abuse

Technology has created new pathways for control, from cyberstalking and online threats to the non-consensual sharing of private information.

This is abuse without physical contact, yet its impact is profound. It creates a constant sense of fear and vulnerability, often damaging a woman’s reputation, peace of mind, and sense of safety.

Films including ‘Jalsa ‘and ‘Searching illustrate the terror and helplessness of having one’s privacy violated online, showing how digital threats can escalate quickly and silently.

Forced Isolation and Public Humiliation

Another red flag is when a partner attempts to sever your ties with loved ones. This can involve restricting communication, monitoring movements, or humiliating someone publicly to diminish their confidence.
Isolation creates dependency. Without support outside the relationship, survivors often feel trapped.

In ‘A Star Is Born’, Ally’s growing isolation mirrors what many experience behind closed doors. The trauma portrayed in Provoked further emphasises how the absence of emotional and social support compounds abuse.

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Economic Control and Financial Dependence

Not all violence leaves bruises; some leave empty bank accounts. Economic abuse includes withholding money, preventing employment, sabotaging career opportunities, or destroying financial credibility. When someone is denied financial autonomy, leaving an abusive situation becomes extremely difficult.

In ‘The Assistant’, Jane’s vulnerability is amplified by her lack of power and independence, while ‘Queen’ celebrates Rani’s journey towards reclaiming her financial and social agency.

Physical Harm and Intimidation

Physical abuse remains the most visible form of GBV, yet it is often intertwined with emotional and economic manipulation. Acts such as hitting, pushing, or physical intimidation are clear violations of safety and respect.

Characters like Amrita in ‘Thappad’ and Lily Bloom in ‘It Ends With Us’ show how frighteningly complex and emotionally draining it is to walk away, even when physical safety is threatened.

Choose to See What’s Often Hidden

If any of these signs feel familiar, in your life or someone else’s, please remember: you are not alone. Awareness is the first step towards seeking support, rebuilding safety, and reclaiming your voice.

Understanding the invisible forms of gender-based violence helps us create communities that believe survivors, support healing, and refuse to normalise harmful behaviour.

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Image Courtesy: IMDb