Indelible Words: The Invisible Marks of Psychological Violence

25 November 2025

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After focusing on economic violence, Plenitude continues its commitment for November 25 by addressing the issue of psychological violence.

November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, is a crucial moment to reflect on a phenomenon with many faces - not all immediately visible. While physical violence leaves clear signs, there is a more insidious, silent, and widespread form of abuse: psychological violence.

The data confirm this reality. According to the 2024 Report by D.i.Re (Women’s Network Against Violence), psychological violence is the most frequent form experienced by women who seek help from anti-violence centers, detected in 82.8% of cases. This figure, which has grown over the years, shows that in the vast majority of situations the perpetrator is the partner (49.6%) or ex-partner (24.7%).

From “You made all of this up” to “Just focus on being a mom”, from “You’re the one who makes me lose control” to “You can’t do anything on your own”, these are just some of the phrases through which psychological violence manifests itself, exercising control and manipulation. Plenitude therefore continues on its path, focusing its 2025 November 25 initiatives on raising awareness about psychological violence. This approach builds on the work launched for International Women’s Day 2025, when the “Ballshit” initiative shed light on gender stereotypes and economic violence.

Indelible Words: Making the Invisible Visible

At the core of the initiative lies a simple yet powerful idea: words can hurt, and the scars - though invisible on the body - remain imprinted in the psyche, like invisible tattoos. “Indelible Words” aims to make visible what is usually hidden, using artistic language to illustrate the marks that words can leave. Plenitude therefore collaborated with tattoo artist La Bigotta to transform some representative phrases of psychological violence into powerful illustrations.

On November 25, Plenitude’s platforms will become a space of awareness for women who often struggle to recognize the signs of such a covert form of violence, which can express itself in many different ways: from constant criticism to insults, from belittling to threats.
There will also be in-depth content and video interviews with experts, offering useful advice on how to defend oneself from these dynamics.

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The initiative will also come to life across the territory: in Plenitude Flagship Stores and company offices, temporary tattoos will be distributed for free, accompanied by a card explaining the project and featuring the 1522 anti-violence and stalking hotline. A simple yet symbolic gesture: making visible what is normally invisible, and reminding people that breaking free is possible - but only if one chooses to recognize it.

A Path to Internal Awareness

Alongside the public initiative, Plenitude also turns its attention inward. On November 25, the company will host the internal event “How to Recognize and Counter Psychological Violence”, broadcast across all Italian and international offices. The goal is to increase awareness of the signs of this form of violence, which is often difficult to identify.

The event will feature two highly authoritative speakers on the subject: Maria Rita Parsi, psychotherapist and President of the Fondazione Fabbrica della Pace Movimento Bambino Onlus, and Claudia Di Palma, coordinator of the SVS Donna Aiuta Donna Anti-Violence Center in Milan.
Recognizing psychological violence means identifying those subtle, silent, and invisible behaviors that harm a woman’s integrity and dignity - such as denigration, control, and restriction of personal freedom. The conversation with the experts will provide practical tools to identify these signs, both in oneself and in those close by, and to understand the pathways to address them.

A Structural Commitment to Equality

The November 25 initiatives rest on a broader, structural commitment that Plenitude, as a Benefit Corporation, pursues every day. The company has long adopted its “Zero Tolerance Against Violence and Harassment in the Workplace” policy and has activated concrete support tools for employees who are victims of abuse - even when it occurs outside the workplace.

These include a 24/7 helpline, free psychological and legal counselling, the possibility of changing workplace or role, flexible hours, paid leave, and forms of financial support for legal or emergency expenses.
Through these tools, Plenitude reinforces its dedication to fostering a safe and inclusive work environment, and to actively contributing to the prevention and contrast of gender violence, even when it takes place outside the company perimeter.

Recognizing the words that wound is the first step toward defusing violence. Providing tools for awareness - both inside and outside the organization - is how Plenitude contributes to a cultural shift based on respect and the value of every individual.

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