Violence and Economic Empowerment of Women in Pakistan: An Empirical Investigation.

Abstract

This article empirically investigates whether women's access to economic resources acts as a risk factor or protective factor for spousal (emotional and physical) violence against them, particularly in the case of Pakistan. Using data from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2012 to 2013, we employed logistic regression to investigate this relationship between women's access to economic resources and spousal violence against them by using two indicators: (a) whether she earns money in cash and/or in-kind and (b) whether she owns property. The results indicate that women who earn in cash and/or in-kind face greater violence. Education can reduce the violence against women and family history of violence contributes positively for greater violence. Result also confirms existence of regional disparity in this regard. Based on findings of this study we provide policy suggestions to mitigate the issue of spousal violence against women.