THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EMPOWERMENT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: EVIDENCE FROM RAHIM YAR KHAN DIST., PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study looks at the relationship between the economic and psychological empowerment of women and domestic violence in Rahim Yar Khan Dist., Pakistan. It uses Social Cognitive Theory as a framework to examine the role of personal empowerment and social support in either reducing or increasing the incidence of domestic violence against married women. The study involved 498 randomly selected married women who completed a structured questionnaire. Regression and mediation analyses were employed to assess the relationships between the various variables. The findings indicate that economic empowerment (particularly financial independence, employment and access to resources) is a major factor in reducing the risk of domestic violence as it provides women with greater control and reduces their dependence on their abusers. Psychological empowerment is also found to be a factor, although it can in some cases lead to an increase in tension in the household, particularly in the context of very traditional gender roles. Social support from the family, the community and institutions is also found to be a significant factor in reinforcing the protective effects of both forms of empowerment. The study concludes that empowerment of women must be part of a wider social change process and must be supported by appropriate social networks to be effective. It adds to the academic literature on the subject by providing a data driven model of the relationship between empowerment and domestic violence and provides practical implications for policy makers, NGOs and practitioners working in the field of gender-based violence.