The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48128

M. E. Khan, PhD¹, Shampa Maria D'Costa, MA², and Moshiur Rahman². (1) Bangladesh Country Office, Population Council, Asia & Near East Region, House CES (B) 21, Road 118, Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 8802-8821227, mekhan@pcdhaka.org, (2) House Number 21, Popualtion Council, Road #118, Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Violence against women (VAW), particularly by husbands is common in Bangladesh. The nature of violence ranges from scolding to severe beating, forced sex and in extreme cases murder. The present paper attempt to study prevalence, nature and intensity of such violence. It also identifies the determinants which lead to such situation.

Both qualitative and quantitative methods have been used to answer the questions. It includes 240 in-depth case studies (168 of women 72 of men) and sample survey of 3900 married women, spread over 3 districts of Bangladesh.

The study shows frequent violence against women. Gender inequality, economic dependence of women on their husband and patriarchal system reinforce each other to perpetuate and promote VAW. Unreasonable sexual demand by husbands, suspicion of extra marital relationship by either partners, perceived neglect of husband by wife and continued demand for dowry are dominant reasons for the conflict leading to different forms of VAW. The patriarchal system and prevailing gender inequality have conditioned women's mentality to the extent that many women justified husband's beating and forced sex as their right. What hurt them most is insult in presence of others than beating by husbands behind the closed door. Working women at the initial stage of their life had faced more violence than non working, perhaps because they challenged established gender role.

Learning Objectives:

• · Provides information on prevalence, nature and determination of VAW in Bangladesh
• · Provides some clue which could be used for community education and consensus building against perpetuation of VAW

Keywords: Violence, Violence Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Population Council
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.