Domestic Violence in Rural Bangladesh

In rural Bangladesh, women’s social and economic circumstances may influence their risk of domestic violence. Although the pervasiveness of domestic violence against women in Bangladesh is well documented, specific risk factors are not well understood.

The paper reflects that only education is associated with significantly reduced odds of violence. Women with more education and income to be less vulnerable to domestic violence. Having a dowry or a registered marriage could strengthen a women’s position in her marriage. The odds are increased for women who had a dowry agreement or had personal earnings that contributed more than nominally to the marital household. Women strongly support educating their daughters, but pressures remain to marry them early, in part to avoid high dowry costs.

Reference:

Bates, L. M., Schuler, S. R., Islam, F., & Islam, M. K. (2004). Socioeconomic factors and processes associated with domestic violence in rural Bangladesh. International family planning perspectives, 190-199.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/1566493?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents