By Evi Chrysoheri,
In recent years, a topic that unfortunately has been persistently in the Greek news is the abuse of women, often involving beating, rape, trafficking and femicides. Each year, increasingly shocking cases emerge, the kind of which you would think belonged in horror films. But, what is the cause of this intense surge in such pathological behaviour in a society that is supposed to have developed, where human rights have been established and education is easily accessible to the majority of people compared to the past?
The question may be new, but the answer remains unchanged: gender inequality and sexism which have led to the abuse of women, all have their roots in the patriarchal system. According to feminist theory, violence against women is manifested as a result of the patriarchal system. Feminism emphasizes that men hold a privileged position within the social system which enables them to subordinate women, and consequently, to establish and maintain their control over social structures and institutions. Men resort to violence as a mean of exercising social control, which can be carried out consciously or unconsciously, with the ultimate goal of subjugating the victim, in this case the woman. After all, it is well known that murder is the ultimate act of asserting dominance over the victim. Men involved in incidents of gender-based violence are often driven by misogynistic beliefs about female sexuality and male superiority. Furthermore, individuals who have experienced domestic violence are much more likely to exhibit violent behaviour, as it often serves as a defence mechanism for them. Additionally, when the victim associates the abuser with a parental figure –either father or mother– it can foster resentment towards the corresponding gender. This connection between the traumatic experience and the gender of the abuser may lead to an outburst of violent behaviour directed at that gender, creating a vicious cycle.
Another theory that explains the abuse of women and the increase in femicides is the theory of social dominance. This theory, as its name implies, involves social groups that manage to assert their dominance over others by oppressing them. These weaker groups bear all the negative consequences of this phenomenon including mistreatment, racism, inequality and violence among others. Thus, when a man commits violence against his partner, it is typically because she deviates from her “prescribed” role, prompting him to reassert his dominance by any means necessary. Let us examine the situation in Greece, where the scourge of femicides is escalating. Statistical data from the Hellenic Police will be presented, outlining the femicides committed between January 1 2010 and December 31 2023: 2010- 11, 2011-12, 2012-6, 2013-13, 2014-12, 2015-11, 2016-13, 2017-7, 2018-13, 2019-8, 2020-8, 2021-23, 2022-24, 2023-13. Over the course of 13 years, a total of 174 women were murdered and the count continues to rise. Even in 2024, six new cases have already been recorded. The cases of these women are so profoundly shocking that they left the nation in a state of collective disbelief, as many struggled to comprehend that such extreme barbarity and inhumanity could exist within our own society.
I will mention some of the most harrowing cases, starting with the murder of Eleni Topaludi. Eleni was a student at the Aegean University, located on the island of Rhodes. She was brutally raped, severely beaten and ultimately murdered by two cold-blooded killers, age 19 and 21. The perpetrators, 19-year-old Alexandros Loutsas and 21-year-old Manolis Koukouras, had invited Eleni to engage in sexual activity at the Rhode’s resident home. When she refused, a fight ensued. Loutsas struck her on the head with a metal object and then choked her and she lost consciousness. The assailants decided to dispose of her body, transporting her in a van to a remote area and throwing her into the sea while she was still alive. Her body was later found dead on a rocky shore.
Another victim added to the grim list of femicides is the 28-years-old Kyriaki Griva. Her case is particularly striking because she had sought help from the authorities out of fear for her life. Specifically, on April 1 2024 she requested police to escort her home, fearing her former partner. The authorities responded with the remark, “The patrol car is not a taxi” and advised her to file a formal complaint to initiate the arrest process. Despite her attempts to call emergency services, the 39-year-old attacker stabbed her five times just outside the police station, with the officer on duty witnessing the murder. Such cases starkly prove that even if you seek help from the one who is supposed to protect you, you are still at risk.
To close off, I hope for a societal awakening and the development of solutions, not only to prevent such incidents but also address and resolve them effectively. It is crucial that we foster a culture of empathy and vigilance to ensure that every individual’s safety is upheld and that justice is served for those affected.
References
- Στατήρα Ανθή. “Έμφυλη βία και ΜΜΕ: αναπαράσταση των γυναικοκτονιών στα ελληνικά ΜΜΕ”. Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Μακεδονίας.
- Μάστιγα οι γυναικοκτονίες στην Ελλάδα – Η μαύρη λίστα των τελευταίων τεσσάρων ετών. in newspaper. Available here
- Σαν σήμερα βιάστηκε και δολοφονήθηκε στη Ρόδο η φοιτήτρια Ελένη Τοπαλούδη. δημοκρατική. Available here
