Typically, the impacts can be sorted into society, community, relationships, and the individual. Institutions and policies are included in this too.
In the community, gender-based violence can mean there is greater tolerance for violence, gender/social inequality, higher unemployment, a lack of support/social services for women & children. Some communities accept traditional gender norms/roles/customs that place women below men. Parts of a community include schools, workplaces, neighborhoods—anywhere social relationships form. It is often dehumanizing which creates weak community sanctions, destroy/prevent safe spaces, and allows gender-based violence to exist in institutions such as school and the workplace. Police and judicial systems can perpetuate and participate in this. Normative use of violence can also prevent people (i.e., women and children) from getting a proper education. Higher rates of domestic violence, limited community, poverty, and lack of support systems are things that impact the individual.
Gender-based violence has negative impacts on the individual, both mental and physical. It also disrupts their connection to others through isolation, exclusion, and mental health resources (if any). Unfortunately, gender-based violence has deep roots in society. From birth to death, someone can be subject to gender-based violence. Women and children are more susceptible to abuse and continuous maltreatment throughout their lives and even generations. Risk factors include lower income, lower levels of education, younger age, struggles with substance abuse, a history of familial abuse, trauma, etc. Often, the societal acceptance of violence means it does not only happen behind closed doors, and that it happens without consequence for the perpetrators. This allows the harmful cycle to continue, the violence to escalate, and the imbalance of power to solidify in community and its institutions. The community’s services and relations that tolerate gender-based violence directly impact the individual.