Document Type
Report
Publication Date
2013
Abstract
This report presents the findings of formative research the Population Council conducted, with support from UK aid, in the district of Patna, India that aimed to better understand the context of violence—physical, emotional, and sexual—against women and girls, and notably, the prevailing norms about men’s entitlement and women’s acquiescence to violence. Findings suggest that violence against women and girls is widespread and widely justified, that women are perceived as having few options but to tolerate violence, and that the most common response to violence is silence. At the same time, many women and some positive deviant men recognize the injustice and unacceptability of violence against women even in this traditional patriarchal setting, and their perceptions reiterate that programs intended to change norms and practices relating to violence against women and girls may indeed be effective. The report recommends a number of multipronged programmatic actions among young and adult populations, both women and men, as well as in schools, at healthcare facilities, and among other service providers who work to eliminate violence against women and girls.
Recommended Citation
Jejeebhoy, Shireen J., K.G. Santhya, and Shagun Sabarwal. 2013. "Gender-based violence: A qualitative exploration of norms, experiences and positive deviance," Technical report. New Delhi: Population Council.
DOI
10.31899/rh3.1013
Language
English
Project
Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls in India
Included in
Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, International Public Health Commons, Women's Health Commons