Women In Intimate Relationships Research Articles

Gender-based Violence amongst Black Visually Impaired Women in Intimate Relationships: A Literature Review

While activists, policymakers, and gender theorists have developed strategies to address gender-based violence (GBV) or intimate partner violence (IPV) for women and Black women in general, they have not attempted to unpack and strategise interventions for Black women with visual impairment (BWVI) facing GBV in intimate relationships. This literature review sought to explore the reported experiences of GBV amongst BWVI in intimate relationships within Southern Africa, as well as which intervention strategies need to be developed based on their needs. A desktop review of available qualitative and quantitative studies from 2000–2023 was conducted to search for publications to answer the following questions: What are the reported experiences of GBV amongst BWVI in intimate relationships? What interventions need to be developed based on their needs? Intersectionality theory underpinned this study. Literature suggests that BWVI report compounded forms of GBV compared to women without disabilities, given their race, gender, and disability status. However, their experiences of GBV were further complicated by a lack of external support and their dependence on perpetrators, making it harder for them to escape from their abusers. As such, it is suggested that the lack of preventative interventions for BWVI from GBV increases their vulnerability to other forms of abuse. Comprehensive interventions based on an intersectional framework are recommended to develop early risk-reduction and empowering strategies to alleviate GBV amongst BWVI within intimate relationships.

Prevalence, Pattern and Effect of Intimate Partner Violence against Women in Abeokuta, South West Nigeria.

The world over, women are victims of violence in close and intimate relationships where they are expected to be safe and protected. Intimate partner violence (IPV) significantly impacts the physical and mental well-being of those affected. This study assessed the prevalence, pattern and effects of IPV amongst women in Abeokuta South Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun State, South West Nigeria. This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Abeokuta - South LGA in Ogun State. Data were collected from 339 women in intimate relationships using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Ethical approval (HPRS/381/471) was obtained from the Ogun State Ministry of Health Ethical Review Committee. Analysis was done using IBM® SPSS version 23, and results were presented in frequencies and proportions using tables and charts. About three-quarters (73.2%) of the 339 respondents had experienced one form of IPV. Psychological/emotional violence, 224 (66.1%), and physical violence, 161 (47.5%), were the study's most commonly reported forms of violence. Amongst those affected, 186 (54.9%) were 'insulted', 87 (25.7%) were 'embarrassed in public' and another 124 (36.6%) were slapped. The effects of IPV reported were bruises/lacerations, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and attempted suicide. The prevalence of IPV of all forms were high in the studied population. Therefore, the government needs to create more awareness of the problem and promote investments in women's empowerment to reverse this trend.

Economic Abuse of Women in Intimate Relationships in Ghana: Consequences and Coping Strategies.

Economic abuse is a significant gender-based problem in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa, but few studies explore the consequences of this type of abuse on women's lives and their coping strategies. This study examined the narratives of 16 Ghanaian women in intimate relationships who experienced economic abuse in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Upper East regions of Ghana. Results indicate economic abuse negatively affected female survivors' jobs, businesses, and food security and led to physical violence and adverse health implications. Some women coped by relying on external family networks, religion, and theft from husbands, while others trivialized their experiences.

Factors Driving Male Violence Against Women in Intimate Relationships

Cases of male violence against women continue to grow. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the influencing factors that lead men to commit violence against their partners. Employing a descriptive research design, this study first identified the demographic profile of 50 identified aggressive men toward women with whom they have an intimate relationship. Subsequently, the influencing factors behind their aggressive behavior were identified. Respondents were selected from those with current cases of violence against women in the Philippines. Data were gathered through interviews, which were then analyzed and interpreted both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results showed that among the influencing factors that lead men to commit violence against women are the perpetrators’ childhood learned behavior/conditioning, economic stress, and alcohol consumption. The results of this study will be used to further develop and improve a program aimed at the elimination of violence against women.

In The Bahamas “She must give it up”: Sexual Abuse of Women in Heterosexual Relationships by their Intimate Partners

This study analyses the treatment of Bahamian women in heterosexual relationships by their intimate partners focusing on instances of sexual and psychological abuse. An internet survey obtained information from 464 married and 1,264 unmarried women currently in intimate relationships with men. Married women were more likely than unmarried women in intimate relationships to report non-consensual sexual intercourse. Married women who admitted to being victims of non-consensual sexual intercourse or reported having been raped by their husband were more likely to have been physically harmed by their husband than those who had not suffered non-consensual sex or rape. Likewise, psychological abuse was more evident in married than unmarried women. The results indicate that behaviours of concern are inflicted by men on their female intimate partners both inside and outside of marriage. The finding that abusive behaviours, including non-consensual sex and psychological abuse, are more common within marriage than outside of marriage requires further study.

Commentary on Rosen et al.: Attending to the unique needs of pregnant and parenting women at risk for overdose.

Women experience unique determinants of overdose risk, including fears concerning child protective services involvement and child custody loss. When addressing the risk for opioid overdose, harm reduction services must account for the needs of pregnant and parenting people. Decades of research has examined the unique social, structural and policy drivers of drug-related harms among women who use drugs (WWUD). Much of this research has been concerned with the social dynamics of drug use and how women's intimate relationships influence harm through patterns of drug use initiation, control over drug use and sexual and injection-related risk for HIV and HCV acquisition [1-6]. Rosen et al. [7] bring this scholarship into the current era by addressing the nature of and reasons for solitary drug use (a risk factor for overdose death [8]) among WWUD. They identify three motivations for solitary drug use among women in their sample: (i) the need to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms, (ii) a desire to avoid anticipated and experienced substance use stigma and (iii) an attempt to reduce vulnerability to violence while intoxicated. An important additional consideration emerging in our research is the fear of child protective services (CPS) involvement among pregnant and parenting WWUD 1 and how that fear influences solitary drug use and other overdose risk factors. Some have argued that families are ground zero for the US drug war [9], and WWUD and their children (especially in communities of color) have been subjected to increased harms. In the United States, 53% of Black children will have CPS involvement by their 18th birthday [10], and parental substance use was a condition of removal for nearly 40% of all children placed in foster care in 2019 [11]. We have found that fear of CPS involvement weighs heavily upon women's decisions about when, where and with whom to use drugs. In our unpublished but forthcoming study on the acceptability of overdose prevention sites (a harm reduction strategy recommended by Rosen et al. to address the concerns in their study), women who had children living at home (or were care-givers to family members) found themselves in need of a safe space to use drugs that was both (i) outside the home and (ii) supervised in case of overdose. In the absence of such a site, some respondents describe using opioids alone, out of sight of children and other family members. Providing a supervised environment for parents while also reducing children's exposure to parental substance use and the trauma of a parent's overdose is a potential benefit of overdose prevention sites. We have also found that fear of CPS influences decisions to seek emergency medical assistance for an overdose by calling 911 [12]. It is well established that people who use drugs fear calling 911 because of the risk of law enforcement involvement [13] In our state, Nevada, where a 911 Good Samaritan Law protects 911 callers from some charges, involvement with CPS is not specifically protected under the law, leading to more risk to parenting women and heightened fear related to summoning help for overdose response. To our knowledge, this protection is not included in any state's 911 Good Samaritan Law. Similar to our findings in the later years of the HIV epidemic [6], in which we identified a host of competing priorities that challenged women's ability to negotiate HIV prevention behavior, Rosen et al.'s research [7] highlights issues that challenge women's ability to reduce their risk for fatal overdose. Harris et al. [14], too, recently found that women worry much more about their personal safety and care-giving responsibilities than the ‘inevitability’ of overdose. They conclude that gender-responsive harm reduction programming is needed to explicitly address women's concerns, including provision of child-care, women-only programs and women-focused mental health programming. We argue that other important additions to these gender-responsive approaches include explicit protections for pregnant and parenting people that keep parents safe from harm and guard against state surveillance that can result in family separation. None. L.L. is a staff member of the Washoe County Human Services Agency, in the CQI unit of Children's Services. Karla D. Wagner: Conceptualization; writing—original draft; writing—review and editing. Lisa Lee: Conceptualization; writing—original draft; writing—review and editing. None.

Contraceptive Decision-Making Among Young College Men and Women in Ethiopia: Results of the Qualitative Study.

There is a scarcity of research on contraceptive decision-making and use among Ethiopian students in higher education institutions. As young college students are more exposed to sexual encounters and premarital sex, it is imperative to look at their contraception decision-making and use. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of young college men and women in sexual relationships regarding the decision-making for contraceptive use at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. A Phenomenological qualitative study design was employed for this study. The participants were recruited using purposeful sampling. Twenty eligible study participants [10 female and 10 men] were interviewed face-to-face. To be selected for the study, participants had to be in a relationship for at least 6 months after joining the university, attending a regular program, and were able to offer detailed information about their sexual encounters and contraceptive decision-making and use. Data were analyzed at the same time as data were collected from February 2 through March 15, 2022. Thematic analysis was done for the study, which comprises 3 stages: data reduction, data display, and data conclusion. Both a priori codes (from the query guide) and emerging inductive codes were used in the study. The data analysis from the in-depth interviews revealed 3 overarching themes consistent with the study's aims, including: types of relationships, level of communication, contraceptive decision-making with a partner, and contraception use. In this study's analysis, the first emerged theme was the types of relationships, which may be divided into 2 categories: dating/causal and intimate partnerships. Participants described their relationship with their partner as intimate and exciting. According to our data, men and women in intimate relationships reported emotional closeness and connectedness. Mostly they make an open discussion about different things including contraception use and made decisions together, they spent a good time together and have mutual trust. They also mentioned that mostly their discussion involves issues about having a happy future life together. On the contrary, however, participants in the causal relationship claimed that while they now spend time together and enjoy themselves, they lack open communication and trust in their relationship. There is less commitment and accountability, and the majority of them do not have a relationship goal, according to their reports. The second theme that emerged during the analysis of the in-depth interview was the level of communication and decision-making with the partner regarding contraception. Within the theme, there is 2 categories communication with partner and decision-making about contraception use. The study participants felt comfortable discussing their sexuality and contraception use in the current study. Most discussions were believed to be initiated by the male partner, and the majority of the decisions were made jointly, according to our findings. The degree of intimacy with their partner in a relationship, their partner's desire, and contraceptive-related concerns are all factors that impact contraception use decision-making, according to the study's findings. The majority of male and female interview participants stated that the length of a relationship was an important consideration when deciding whether or not to use contraception. Participants in stable long-term relationships were more likely to choose protection than those in short-term relationships. The usage of contraception, which encompasses 5 linked categories, emerged as the third theme from the in-depth interview analysis: types of contraception used, concerns and doubts about adverse effects of contraception use, reasons for contraception use, trust between partners determines contraception use, barriers to contraception use. The findings of this study demonstrated that communication and using contraception is a common practice and is accepted as a positive thing on campus, mostly to prevent unexpected pregnancy. The major obstacles to using contraception are believed to be a lack of available contraceptives on campus and cost-related concerns. Most male partner access and bring contraceptives from private drug stores for their girlfriends. The university administration and other interested stakeholders need to pay close attention to efforts to increase the use of contraceptives among high-risk young university women while helping guide actions to involve young men in making contraceptive decisions on campus.

A Qualitative Inquiry of the Causes of Economic Abuse Among Women in Intimate Relationships in Ghana

A Qualitative Inquiry of the Causes of Economic Abuse Among Women in Intimate Relationships in Ghana

Religious leaders can motivate men to cede power and reduce intimate partner violence: Experimental evidence from Uganda

Violence committed by men against women in intimate relationships is a pervasive problem around the world. Patriarchal norms that place men as the head of household are often to blame. Previous research suggests that trusted authorities can shift perceptions of norms and create behavior change. In many settings, a compelling authority on behavior in relationships is religious leaders, who are influential sources of information about proper conduct in relationships and gatekeepers of marriage, but may also uphold traditional gender roles. One way leaders exert their influence is through premarital or couples counseling courses. In this study, we test whether, if given an opportunity to offer a more progressive religious interpretation of gender roles during these courses, religious leaders could motivate men to share power and thereby reduce violence. Building on existing faith networks of Christian religious leaders in western Uganda, we conducted a large pair-matched, randomized controlled trial among 1,680 heterosexual couples in which participants were randomized to attend a 12-session group counseling course or wait-listed. We find that the program shifted power from men to women and reduced intimate partner violence by five percentage points, comparable with more intensive secular programs. These improvements were largest among couples counseled by religious leaders who held the most progressive views at baseline and who critically engaged with the material. Our findings suggest that religious leaders can be effective agents of change for reducing violence.

Intimate Partner Femicide in South Korea: An Integrative Review of the Literature.

Intimate partner femicide (IPF) is a severe form of violence perpetrated against women in intimate relationships. The purpose of this integrative literature review was to identify studies of IPF in South Korea. A web-based literature search was performed in six databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, SocINDEX, and RISS (Korean academic online database). Because of the limited number of findings, Google Scholar was used to find additional studies. Nine articles were selected. There were no studies of IPF in South Korea utilizing a healthcare perspective. The studies were primarily designed to understand the characteristics of the cases and the perpetrators. Through the application of the ecological model to these studies, risk factors at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels were identified. Although these studies identified that risk factors at the societal level-Korean culture, policy, and law-have a considerable influence on femicide, a clear solution is not proposed. It is imperative to understand IPF in South Korea from a female societal perspective to facilitate violence prevention and recovery for those experiencing intimate partner violence.

Gender Roles in Intimate Relationships: Who Initiates and Why?

The gender roles of men and women are continuously changing in heterosexual relationships alongside the ever-increasing flexibility and variation of preferences, choice, agency, and individual needs. This paper delves into the role tradition plays between men and women in intimate relationships regarding marriage proposals and surname changes, as well as which sex initiates more when it comes to physical intimacy, emotional intimacy, and long-term commitment.

Single, Repeat, and Poly Intimate Partner Violence Victimization among Women at a College Campus: Extending Research Through the Inclusion of Technology-Facilitated Violence and Examining Key Social Determinants for Intimate Partner Violence Prevention.

This study examines intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (i.e., technology-facilitated and in-person psychological, physical, and sexual) and polyvictimization, along with the role of social support and other factors in influencing these experiences. Using a sample of college women in intimate relationships in the past year (n = 265), findings revealed that social support was important in predicting IPV victimizations, with less prosocial support contributing to more frequent victimization for specific IPV forms and polyvictimization. The same support features emerged as significant for repeat technology-facilitated and repeat psychological IPV (i.e., social network relationship support), and for repeat physical and repeat sexual IPV (i.e., family connectedness), suggesting certain forms share commonalities. In the polyvictimization model, both social support measures were significant. The implications for IPV research and violence prevention are discussed.

The Role of Gender Power Imbalances in the Spread of HIV among Women in Intimate Relationships: Guidelines for Social Work Practice

Gender power imbalances and HIV are concerns that affect women globally. Social workers are ethically committed to help people affected with HIV and thereby promote gender equality. Although the literature has documented the nexus between gender imbalances and HIV, scant research explores these problems concurrently within the social work profession. Drawing on the resource theory and gender and power theory, this article undertook a qualitative exploratory to gain insights into women's perspectives on gender power imbalances as a risk factor for HIV transmission in rural communities of Ngaka Modiri Molema District, North West Province. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants while data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings demonstrate that unequal power relations between men and women in intimate relationships negatively affect women’s lives in diverse ways. This gendered impact of HIV infections for women remains intact due to the rooted gender norms that limit their ability to protect themselves against risky sexual behavior by their male partners. Disclosure of one's status remains a complex stigma attached to HIV. Social work empowerment interventions that seek to enhance equality in intimate relationships are recommended.

Women who remain in relationships with registered sexual offenders: Analysis of forum discussion

AbstractRegistered sexual offenders (RSOs) are inevitably on the receiving end of much negative evaluation within society. By association, individuals in close relationships with RSOs may experience what Goffman (1963) [Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Simon & Schuster Ltd.] termed ‘courtesy stigma’, through which they are also negatively evaluated. The present study explores this phenomenon in the contemporary context of online discussion. Drawing on recent methodological developments in the microanalysis of online data, three specific threads from online parenting forums are examined, each opening with a specific account of their dilemma by women in intimate relationships with RSOs. Analysis of the sequential interaction within each thread demonstrates the way that stigma is performed by online parenting communities and how individuals manage that stigma as the interaction unfolds. We conclude that partners of RSOs, unlike family members, can mitigate courtesy stigma by ending the relationship, but otherwise risk being ostracised by community members.

Attitude towards gender norms in Ghana: understanding the dynamics among men and women in intimate relationships

Despite the growing interest in issues relating to gender norms, few studies have targeted men and women in intimate relationships. Using the Gender Equitable Men Scale (GEM), this study measured attitudes toward gender norms concerning violence, sexual relationships, reproductive health and disease prevention, and domestic chores and daily life among men and women in intimate relationships in a peri-urban district in Ghana. We also evaluated the psychometric properties of the GEM Scale as applied to men and women in intimate relationships. Data were obtained from a sample of 400 respondents (200 men and 200 women) between the ages of 18 and 55 years living in the West Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana using a multi-stage cluster sampling technique focused on sub-districts and communities. Factor analyses and Cronbach alpha computations were used to test the construct validity and internal consistency reliability of the GEM Scale. Descriptive and bivariate analyses using a t-test were conducted. The Factor analyses result supported the GEM Scale suitability to measure attitudes towards gender norms among men and women in intimate relationships in the Ghanaian context. The internal consistency reliability test yielded a Cronbach alpha of .840. Moderate support for equitable gender norms among the respondents was found. Women showed significantly more support for equitable gender norms than men (t = − 3.890, p < 0.001). In all four domains of the GEM Scale, women consistently showed a high level of support for gender equitable norms.

Wedlock or Wed-Lockup? A Case for Abolishing Restitution of Conjugal Rights in India

Abstract Colonialism in India consisted of a “civilizing mission” when the British rulers sought to initiate reforms in India, by projecting themselves to be the forerunners of modernity. Ironically, restitution of conjugal rights (RCR) runs contrary to any claims of modernity. Through an RCR, an unwilling spouse could be directed by the coercive machinery of the law to cohabit with his/her spouse, in recognition of the right of married persons to conjugality and consortium. Although couched in gender neutral terms, the remedy had and continues to have grave ramifications for women. This was applied by British judges to family law cases in India in the 1800s, and incorporated in family law statutes in post-independent India. RCR remains in force and is a legal remedy sought in the Indian courts till date, although it was abolished in England in 1970. This article critically examines RCR through historical, legal, feminist and comparative law perspectives. It analyses the impact of the English remedy on the norms of marriage and family in India, which are sites of oppression of, violence against and subordination of women. It argues for the repeal of RCR from the Indian statute books as it undermines bodily integrity and sexual autonomy of women in intimate relationships, and is incongruent with constitutional principles and India’s international human rights obligations.

The Influence of Ideological Variables in the Denial of Violence Against Women: The Role of Sexism and Social Dominance Orientation in the Spanish Context.

Violence against women in heterosexual intimate relationships is a major social problem with serious physical and psychological consequences for the victims. There is a line of research that seeks to analyze how ideological variables and contextual variables influence the way in which this type of violence is perceived. This study analyzed the relationship between hostile sexism, benevolent sexism and social dominance in the acceptance of the myths about violence against women in intimate relationships. A total of 215 Spanish university students (125 women and 90 men) participated in the research. The results indicate that hostile sexism and social dominance orientation act as factors that influence the acceptance of such myths in men. Benevolent sexism did not act in this way. The data reconfirm the importance of hostile sexism and social dominance orientation in the perception of violence against women, in this case, that which is committed by their partners (or ex-partners) in the area of intimate relationships.

Konstruksi Gender Dalam Relasi Intimate Relationship Pada Novel Friendzone: Lempar Kode Sembunyi Hati Karya Alnira (Sebuah Analisis Framing)

This thesis is titled Gender Construction in Intimate Relationship on “Friendzone: Lempar Kode Sembunyi Hati” Novel by Alnira (A Framing Analysis). The purpose of this research is to find the expression of feelings between men and women in intimate relationships through the novel characters, and discover the relationships that exist between gender construction and intimate relationships through the analysis of the Gamson and Modigliani framing models. This research uses descriptive qualitative method, where the data presented, are not in the form of numbers and more emphasis on meaning rather than generalization. Data collection techniques used are using documentation techniques and unobtrusive observation techniques, where this technique is a technique used to examine texts, and audio-visual recordings. This research was conducted during the 2019 October to January 2020. The research object is the novel “Friendzone: Lempar Kode Sembunyi Hati” by Alnira, that released on February 2018 with 300 pages. Then the object is dissected using the Gamson and Modigliani Framing analysis model to see how the expression of feelings constructed by gender in Dira and Ransi characters on the novel. The results of this research are, gender can affect the expression of a man and woman in expressing their feelings, where men express their feelings through gestures and non-verbal actions, while women need a recognition of the status of the relationship through their verbal. In addition, gender construction will influence the success of intimate relationships between men and women, if misunderstandings that occur due to differences in conversation patterns can be resolved.

Gender Socioeconomic Inequalities in Intimate Relationships

Inspired by the materialist feminist theoretical approach, this study starts from an underlying assumption that research of gender socioeconomic inequalities in intimate relationships requires the analysis of specific variables that constitute the socioeconomic status of intimate partners. Based on five indicators relevant for contemporary Croatian society, the GSEI index was constructed and applied to a representative sample of Croatian women in intimate relationships. The results showed significant gender socioeconomic inequalities between intimate partners, mostly in favour of men. The highest level of inequality between intimate partners was discovered with regard to real-estate ownership, whereas the highest level of equality between partners was found in their level of education. Although socioeconomic inequalities between intimate partners in favour of men prevail regardless of the geographic and social context, they are more pronounced in regions with more traditional values, among couples who live in rural areas, and among those who are married (in comparison with those who live in domestic partnership). A recommendation for further research and GSEI index application is to consider which are the relevant indicators for measuring gender socioeconomic inequalities in intimate relationships depending on the wider social context.

Breaking the Silence on Father-Daughter Sexual Abuse of Adolescent Girls: A Case Law Study

Adolescent girls are targeted for sexual violence at a rate higher than females at any other life stage. Girls most often face sexual violence at the hands of men that they know and trust within their own families, yet this type of abuse has largely evaded scrutiny from the #MeToo movement. In this article, the authors seek to revitalize the discussion of sexual abuse against adolescent girls by their fathers. The article is part of a larger study that examined all Canadian judicial decisions involving sexual offences against girls between the ages of twelve and seventeen inclusive over a three-year period. An examination of these cases shows that more than one quarter of all reported decisions involving sexual assault against adolescent girls were committed by stepfathers and biological fathers. The authors found patterns of violence similar to those of coercive control described by adult women in intimate relationships, with men exerting controlling behaviours that extended beyond the sexual activity itself. While conviction rates were relatively high, they were lower for fathers than for other groups of perpetrators. The authors conclude that sexual abuse by fathers may be the easiest to perpetrate, the hardest to uncover, and the most damaging to victims.