Women Empowerment: Factors behind Domestic Violence against Women living in city slums of Karachi
Abstract
In Pakistan, majority of the women are much unsecure and remain often exposed to Domestic Violence, as appropriate empowerment of women, proper provision of support of law and strong social structure are vigorously missing,... [ view full abstract ]
In Pakistan, majority of the women are much unsecure and remain often exposed to Domestic Violence, as appropriate empowerment of women, proper provision of support of law and strong social structure are vigorously missing, especially in poverty ridden areas and rural settings.
The main purpose of the study was to explore the perpetuating factors behind Domestic Violence against women living in a squatter settlement of Pakistan and to explore the decision making role of women at their homes.
This study was conducted in a squatter settlement of Karachi by using qualitative method. Subjects were selected with the help of members of Women Support Group (WSG). Ten case studies were developed in local language and later on were transcribed in English language
The main perpetuating factors behind Domestic Violence were poverty, lack of education, unemployment, early age marriages, multiple marriages, extra-marital relationships, mis-trust and lack of understanding among the partners, drug addiction and mental illness of husbands. Ten case studies reveals: age of women consulted were ranging from 20 to 60 years, period of exposure to domestic violence by their husbands was ranging from 5 years to 40 years. Four women were married before adolescent age. Two husbands were mentally ill, one convicted murder, three were addicted to narcotics, five were unemployed and were not having trust on their wives. Other perpetuators of violence were in-laws of women and property transfer.
There is need to embark upon the factors causing Domestic Violence by taking collective efforts. Poverty alleviation, provision of employment, control on drug business, sensitization about importance of social norms and values, provision of social support for re-conciliation and counseling, rehabilitation of addicted people, empowerment of women and provision of appropriate support of law to women can reduce the prevalence of Domestic Violence.
Key Words: women, domestic violence, poverty, husband
Authors
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Farah Naz
(Dow Medical University)
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Bilal Yousuf
(Liaquat national medical college)
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Shakila Yousuf
(Government Health Department, Sindh)
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muhammad yousuf
(Aga)
Topic Areas
III. Urban Environments: what specificities? 3.1 Urban Environments as places of demograph , IV. Urbanism, Health and Wellbeing 4.1 Built environment 4.2 Pollution: air, noise, etc , VII. Urban health policies 7.1 Governance and policy frameworks 7.2 Health in all policies
Session
PS-2 » POSTER SESSION 2 (11:45 - Saturday, 2nd April, TBA)
Paper
Abstract_Women_Empowerment.doc
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