Experiences of gender based violence (GBV) among women in Zambia of reproductive age (14-49) : do norms and beliefs perpetrate the vice?

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of norms and beliefs on gender based violence (GBV) experiences among women in Zambia while answering the question: Did norms and beliefs among men and women perpetrate the experience based on evidence from the 2013-14 ZDHS. The study employed a non-intervention and explanatory research design; non-intervention study design since no manipulation was applied to the target population. The findings of this study indicated norms and beliefs have a significant bearing on the incidence and prevalence of gender based violence in Zambia. All of the responses that were classified as norms which included women that think GBV was justified had statistically significant relationships with the dependent variable. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed a consistent relationship between social norms and violence against women. The primary strength of this study is that it examined the direct relation of norms and beliefs on the experience of GBV for women in their reproductive ages. The study used fully comparable and nationally representative data from the 2014 Zambia Demographic and Health survey. Given global efforts to end violence against women, this study is important both for policymakers and service providers. It highlighted how social norm impact gender-based violence perpetration in Zambia and suggested that solutions should be aimed at controlling social pressures and expectations that influence individual behaviour. Among the recommendations is that policy makers and service providers should aim at controlling social pressures and expectations that influence individual behaviour and to introduce techniques such as public shaming and requiring community service as a punishment for abusive behaviour. The other important recommendation was to introduce groups of trained local women and men who should provide education about the law and rights, and to challenge the culture of justifying emotional and physical abuse of both women and children. The study further recommended that greater attention is needed in future research on the interaction between social norms, gender roles, and the intersection of gender inequality in Zambia.

Key Words: Gender based violence; norms; beliefs; cultural; social