Contributing Factors of Domestic Violence against Women


Ahmad Sher, University of Essex

Women are neglected and discriminated in every aspect of life. In Pakistan traditionally women are considered as subordinate to their men. Women are suffering in every sector. They don’t know about their rights as generally they are less educated. Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development goals focus on gender equality and much legislation has been passed in favor of women rights but still in Pakistan women are insecure even in their homes. They are considered as subordinate to men and are not allowed to participate in any matter of life. The objectives of the present study were to know the prevalence and types of domestic violence; to identify the root causes of domestic violence; to know the contributing factors compelling women into Dar-ul-Aman. The present study was conducted in Dar-ul-Aman, District Multan, Pakistan. The population for present study was all the women who faced domestic violence and were living in Dar-ul-Aman District Multan, Pakistan. For the data collection interview schedule was used as a tool. Of the 100 respondents, majority 56% respondents belonged to age group 21-30 years, 32% belonged to 31- 40%, 4% belonged to age group 41-50, 2 % belonged to above 50 years. The data revealed that 76% respondents belonged to rural area and 24 % respondent’s belonged to urban area. About 52% respondents’ family monthly income was less than 20000 PK rupees, 33% respondents family monthly income was 21000-30000 PK rupees, 6% respondents’ income was 31000-40000 PK rupees, 7% respondents family monthly income was 41000-50000 PK rupees and 2% respondents family monthly income was above 50000 PK rupees. Grater part of the respondents 72% discussed that their male partners used drugs and 28% shared that their male partners did not use any drugs. Majority 83% respondents faced violence by their male partners, while 7% shared that perpetuators were fathers, about 9% respondents shared that their other family members were perpetuators of domestic violence and only 1 % expressed that any other was perpetrator of domestic violence. About 63% respondents faced physical violence, 29% faced verbal and 7% faced sexual violence. The study concluded that women should have equal opportunity in their life decisions and they must have parental and in-laws support for their better life.

This paper will be presented at the following session: