Patriarchy and gender-inequitable attitudes as drivers of intimate partner violence against women in the central region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: In order to reduce women's exposure to violence and develop culturally appropriate interventions, it is important to gain an understanding of how men who use violence rationalize it. The present study sought to explore the perspectives of men who had used violence on their female partners, specifically their views on intimate partner violence (IPV), gender norms, manhood, their gender attitudes and to understand how these may drive male perpetrated IPV against women in the Central Region of Ghana. Methods: This was a qualitative study involving purposively sampled adult men who had participated in a household-based survey in selected districts in the Central Region of Ghana and who had self-reported perpetration of IPV in the past 12 months. In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 men. Results: Data revealed how a range of social, cultural, and religious factors ̶ stemming from patriarchy ̶ combined to inform the construction of a traditional masculinity. These factors included the notion that decision-making in the home is a man's prerogative, there should be rigid and distinct gender roles, men's perceptions of owning female partners and having the right to have sex with them whenever they desire, and the notion that wife beating is legitimate discipline. Findings suggest that it was through performing, or aspiring to achieve, this form of masculinity that men used varying forms of violence against their female partners. Moreover, data show that the men's use of violence was a tactic for controlling women and emphasizing their authority and power over them.

Understanding domestic violence: masculinity, culture, traditions

“… Sikweyiya et al. (2020) , argues that addressing domestic violence has proven challenging because wife beating was historically legitimized through policies that positioned women as minors while allowing men to exercise power over them ( Sikweyiya et al., 2020 ). Women were subjected to cultural and social acceptance of domestic violence with no policies to protect them.…”

“…Studies show that poorer unemployed men are more likely to perpetrate violence due to powerlessness associated with unemployment and lack of economic resources ( Knabe et al., 2016 ; Sikweyiya et al., 2020 ). Men who have been affected by unemployment have been found to have low self-esteem, insecurities, and higher levels of anger, which are all risk factors to perpetrating domestic violence ( Myers and Demantas, 2016 ; Schneider et al., 2016 ).…”

“…Research shows that men who feel that they have lost their manhood identity tend to use violence as their only way of demonstrating masculinity ( Connell, 2017 ; Jewkes and Morrell, 2018 ; Morrell et al., 2012 ). This is particularly the case in most South African cultures where men and women have distinct traditional gender roles, with emphasis on male breadwinner role ( Mshweshwe, 2018 ; Sikweyiya et al., 2020 ).…”

“…These constructions of masculinity and femininity continue to be strongly promoted in many African cultural contexts ( Ajayi and Soyinka-Airewele, 2018 ; Akangbe Tomisin, 2020 ). They serve to provide the framing of gender inequality, male entitlements and unequal power relations between husbands and their wives ( Akangbe Tomisin, 2020 ; Sikweyiya et al., 2020 ).…”

“…Studies show that in many African cultural contexts' husbands continue to be viewed as leaders of the home who are entitled to exercise power over wives ( Mshweshwe, 2018 ; Sikweyiya et al., 2020 ). For example, the use of violence by men is considered culturally appropriate in situations where a wife has transgressed gender norms since husbands are entitled to lead the family, maintain order, gender hierarchy which is a key characteristic of a functioning marriage ( Akangbe Tomisin, 2020 ; Tonsing and Tonsing, 2019 ).…”