Gender Norms and Beliefs, and Men’s Violence Against Women in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

Prevention of violence against women requires understanding men's controlling attitudes and behaviors toward women. In Bangladesh, while the incidence of men's violence against women is alarmingly increasing, existing research to understand the determinants of men's violent behavior resulted in contradictory findings. The current study explores rural Bangladeshi men's support for gender norms, beliefs, and attitudes concerning violence against women, and looks at how these are influenced by men's age, marital status, education, and affiliation with organizations that promote gender equality. The study also attempts to understand men's bystander attitudes and responses to incidents of violence against women. Using the theoretical framework of hegemonic masculinity, the study was conducted among a sample of 1,200 men and women. Results indicate that in the study areas, young, unmarried men are less supportive to gender norms, beliefs, and attitudes that promote violence against women. Positive association was observed with men's educational attainment and affiliation with nongovernmental organization (NGO) interventions. Regardless of age, marital status, or education, men's bystander response toward intervening to prevent violence against women was found to be low. Women showed similar level of support for inequitable gender norms, beliefs, and attitudes. Analysis of the findings using a hegemonic masculinity lens reveals more complicated dynamics of power and hegemonic control at work that perpetuate men's violence against women. Based on the findings, the study also identifies possible strategies for violence prevention interventions in Bangladesh.

The role of women's traditional gender beliefs in depression, intimate partner violence and stress: insights from a Spanish abbreviated multicultural measure

“…Specifically, it represents a real action aimed both at banishing unhealthy beliefs and at applying functional ways of thinking that improve women's ability to acquire new skills that enable them to fully develop in the society, especially in vulnerable groups such as battered women. Recent studies have shown that traditional gender beliefs justify, promote, and perpetuate violence against women [ 26 ] by holding irrational beliefs systematically transferred to relationships.…”

“…Research has also shown the influence of TGBs on women's psychological health, including depression [ 7 , 16 , 38 ] as well as stress and anxiety [ 3 , 89 ]. In addition, TGBs have been associated with gender abuse [ 26 , 51 ]. Therefore, the modification of TGBs might provide resilience resources to women and minorities [ 33 ].…”

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“…Examples abound, with more obvious examples including the use of slang terminology and language (both in response to formal language practices and as a means of preventing access to social networks), dress codes or practices, tastes in music and other forms of art, and so on. Such examples are also used to symbolize and are indicative of deeper structural norms relating to gender distinctions/expectations, class divisions, and racial disparities (Fattah and Camellia 2017;Kimani 2007). Embedded in such practices are also norms which signify more nuanced distinctions, often only visible to those who possess the requisite knowledge to engage with the in-group.…”

A Comprehensive Review of Embracing the Normality of Rape Culture: Time to Put a Stop to Victim Blaming

“…Many gang rape attackers are male. In a gang rape, there is the involvement of more than one rapist which is more violent compared to rape by one particular individual (Fattah & Camellia, 2017). Predictions on rape based on population-based surveys and analyses of high-income males are between 5.6%, and 27% of youth and are based on men disclosing an act matching legal criteria of rape or attempted rape.…”