Women’s Level of Education and Its Effect on Domestic Violence in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper explores the association between women’s education and domestic violence against women perpetrated by their husbands and in-laws in the context of rural Bangladesh. The aim of the study is to find out whether a low level of women’s education has a causal relation with domestic violence in rural Bangladesh. The research has been conducted through analyzing primary researches and data on domestic violence and associated factors of violence in recent years. The study reveals that the contextual variation of a number of factors associated with domestic violence allows us to identify a correlation of education level of women with domestic violence. The paper concludes with the suggestion that providing women with higher level of education may present an environment for lower level of violence and women’s autonomy. However, it also may indirectly intensify family violence, depending on the circumstance. Keyword: Domestic Violence, Rural Bangladesh, Women’s Educational Level, Women’s Status