Women’s Empowerment as a Protective Factor Against Intimate Partner Violence in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Exploration of the Process and Limitations of Its Influence

Schuler, Sidney Ruth; Lenzi, Rachel; Badal, Shamsul Huda; Bates, Lisa M.

doi:10.1177/1077801216654576

Cited by 30 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The relationship between spousal educational level and IPV is not consistent in literature. Our findings are consistent with the findings of studies that showed that as a partner’s level of education increases the risk of experiences sexual or emotional violence decreases [ 28 , 37 , 38 ]. Nonetheless, the findings do not corroborate the findings of Burazeri et al [ 39 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…According to Rahman, Hoque and Makinoda [ 27 ], the likelihood of all forms of IPV increases with participation in household decision-making. Naved and Persson [ 28 ] report similar findings. These findings suggest that women’s empowerment may influence their risk of IPV in complex and contradictory ways and that their risk may vary with specific forms of empowerment.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 52%

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Women decision-making capacity and intimate partner violence among women in sub-Saharan Africa

2018

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BackgroundViolence against women is a common form of human rights violation, and intimate partner violence (IPV) appears to be the most significant component of violence. The aim of this study was to examine the association between women decision-making capacity and IPV among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study also looked at how socio-demographic factors also influence IPV among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsThe study made use of pooled data from most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted from January 1, 2010, and December 3, 2016, in 18 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. For the purpose of the study, only women aged 15–49 were used (N = 84,486). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between the explanatory variables and the outcome variable.ResultsThe odds of reporting ever experienced IPV was higher among women with decision-making capacity [AOR = 1.35; CI = 1.35–1.48]. The likelihood of experiencing IPV was low among young women. Women who belong to other religious groups and Christians were more likely to experience IPV compared to those who were Muslims [AOR = 1.73; CI = 1.65–1.82] and [AOR = 1.87; CI = 1.72–2.02] respectively. Women who have partners with no education [AOR = 1.11; CI = 1.03–1.20], those whose partners had primary education [AOR = 1.34; CI = 1.25–1.44] and those whose partners had secondary education [AOR = 1.22; CI = 1.15–1.30] were more likely to IPV compared to those whose partners had higher education. The odds of experiencing IPV were high among women who were employed compared to those who were unemployed [AOR = 1.33; CI = 1.28–1.37]. The likelihood of the occurrence of IPV was also high among women who were cohabiting compared to those who were married [AOR = 1.16; CI = 1.10–1.21]. Women with no education [AOR = 1.37; CI = 1.24–1.51], those with primary education [AOR = 1.65; CI = 1.50–1.82] and those with secondary education [AOR = 1.50; CI = 1.37–1.64] were more likely to experience IPV compared to those with higher education. Finally, women with poorest wealth status [AOR = 1.28; CI = 1.20–1.37], those with poorer wealth status [AOR = 1.24; CI = 1.17–1.32], those with middle wealth status [AOR = 1.27; CI = 1.20–1.34] and those with richer wealth status [AOR = 1.11; CI = 1.06–1.17] were more likely to IPV compared to women with richest wealth status.ConclusionThough related socio-demographic characteristics and women decision-making capacity provided an explanation of IPV among women in sub-Saharan Africa, there were differences in relation to how each socio-demographic variable predisposed women to IPV in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Women decision-making capacity and intimate partner violence among women in sub-Saharan Africa

2018

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“…This may be in part because they were asked to comment on changes in their communities, but the interviews also convey a sense that some of the men were expressing fears and perceived threats based on collectively generated stereotypes rather than personal experience. Life history narratives with young women from the same communities (Schuler et al 2016) virtually never revealed levels of audacity, freedom and imperiousness among women that the interviews with men suggested. And women from these communities with salaried jobs were far fewer than the men implied.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The field research team reviewed the findings and conclusions and discussed them with the lead author, who further revised them. Results were also triangulated with findings from 13 focus groups and 74 life history narratives with women from the same villages (findings reported in Schuler et al 2013, 2016). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Men’s perspectives on women’s empowerment and intimate partner violence in rural Bangladesh

Schuler

Lenzi

Badal

et al. 2017

Culture, Health & Sexuality

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Intimate partner violence (IPV) may increase as women in patriarchal societies become empowered, implicitly or explicitly challenging prevailing gender norms. Prior evidence suggests an inverse U-shaped relationship between women’s empowerment and IPV, in which violence against women first increases and then decreases as more egalitarian gender norms gradually gain acceptance. By means of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with men in 10 Bangladeshi villages, this study explores men’s evolving views of women, gender norms and the legitimacy of men’s perpetration of IPV in the context of a gender transition. It examines men’s often-contradictory narratives about women’s empowerment and concomitant changes in norms of masculinity, and identifies aspects of women’s empowerment that are most likely to provoke a male backlash. The findings suggest that men’s growing acceptance of egalitarian gender norms and their self-reported decreased engagement in IPV are driven largely by pragmatic self-interest: their desire to improve their economic status and fear of negative consequences of IPV.

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“…Their understanding of the importance of education was boosted. This empowerment was found to be protective (Schuler et al 2017) in the sense that education remains the main force that enables women to have expanded choices and therefore enhances their capabilities (Arends-Kuenning and Amin 2001). According to Freire (1997Freire ( , 2000 dialogue generates a critical attitude and true dialogue cannot exist unless the dialoguers engage in critical thinking.…”

Section: The Capabilities Of Practical Reason and Affiliation Reinformentioning

confidence: 99%

Transforming Vulnerability into Power: Exploring Empowerment among Women with Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in the Context of Migration in Belgium

Agboli

Botbol-Baum

O‘Neill³

et al. 2019

Journal of Human Development and Capabilities

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This paper discusses an aspect of empowerment in relation to the central human capabilities for women with FGM/C in the diaspora. Many women who have undergone the practice of FGM/C come from societies where gender inequalities and gender-based discrimination between men and women persist, which compromises their capabilities, and many find themselves in vulnerable positions in their relationships with men, at work and in their everyday-life. The participants in this study however appeared somehow to have been empowered through certain health-promoting activities where they exercised agency in the western social context, they reside in. This paper examines the empowerment gained by the migrant women with FGM/C after participating in health-promoting activities. We compared this form of empowerment to the reinforcement of their capabilities according to Nussbaum's central human capabilities. Drawing on Nussbaum's list as a starting point we explore the relationship between capabilities and empowerment. We found that some central human capabilities appeared to be reinforced through health-promoting activities, whereas issues relating to asylum seeking became a

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Women’s Empowerment as a Protective Factor Against Intimate Partner Violence in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Exploration of the Process and Limitations of Its Influence

Cited by 30 publications

References 28 publications

Women decision-making capacity and intimate partner violence among women in sub-Saharan Africa

Women decision-making capacity and intimate partner violence among women in sub-Saharan Africa

Men’s perspectives on women’s empowerment and intimate partner violence in rural Bangladesh

Transforming Vulnerability into Power: Exploring Empowerment among Women with Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in the Context of Migration in Belgium

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