Missed Opportunities for Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Through Microcredit: Qualitative Findings From Bangladesh. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robinson, Amber B.; Stephenson, Rob; Merrill, Katherine G.; Morse, Sophie; Surkan, Pamela J.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 27:Number 11(2021)
• Page Start: 1879
• Page End: 1895
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: intimate partner violence -- microcredit -- Bangladesh; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801220963906
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

Microcredit has shown mixed results when used to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV). This study explored microcredit and IPV in Bangladesh by conducting 12 focus groups with married men and women. Participants described challenges to microcredit participation highlighting "missed opportunities" for reducing IPV, including needs to (a) prevent violence sparked by loan disputes, (b) incorporate skill development to improve women's agency as a means of reducing IPV, and (c) mindfully engage men in the loan process to help address men's unequal gender ideologies. These modifications to microcredit programs are proposed to maximize positive change on gender and IPV.