Inequality of Gender Relations during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Violence against Women in Sambas, West Kalimantan

Abstract

This study aims to determine the causes of acts of violence. These actions can occur by anyone and anywhere closely related to health and human rights, one of which is in Sambas, West Kalimantan. In these cases, acts of violence are often used to maintain and enforce the subordination of women to men. In 2019-2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic violence cases within a year of the number of reports from the Sambas Religious Court, there were approximately 760 domestic violence cases. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method with an empirical sociological approach. The focus of this research is the constituents of violence against Women. The results in this study are that since the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019-2020, acts of violence against women increased from 450 cases to 760 cases during COVID-19 due to changes in lifestyle in households with limitations, especially family economic problems. With the low community mindset about the equality of men and women between fellow interactions, they are not benefited in this situation. Some factors cause violence against women, namely economic and socio-cultural problems or the imbalance of power relations that pushes women's subordination.