Men's perspectives on women's empowerment and intimate partner violence in rural Bangladesh. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schuler, Sidney Ruth; Lenzi, Rachel; Badal, Shamsul Huda; Nazneen, Sohela
• Is Part Of: Culture, health & sexuality. Volume 20:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 127
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Intimate partner violence -- empowerment -- masculinity -- Bangladesh; Sex -- Periodicals; Sex -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; Sex -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; 306.705
• DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2017.1332391
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-1058

Abstract

Abstract: 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 explored 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. 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.