Women as Domestic Violence Victims

Empowering women goes beyond enabling them to contribute to their families and personal development; it also encourages them to play a critical role in the overall well-being of their households alongside their partners. Women often face significant challenges when managing a household alone and raising and guiding children. Joint efforts by both parents provide:

• Children with a healthier and more supportive environment.

• Helping to shield them from issues like drug abuse.

• Risky behaviors.

• Other social challenges.

Families led by women often experience difficulties addressing socioeconomic issues, and single-parent households may struggle to maintain financial and emotional stability. However, women frequently play a vital role in supporting their spouses, offering guidance and emotional support to family members during challenging times. Empowering women enhances their ability to mentor, advise, and guide their families, enabling them to fulfill various roles as mothers, sisters, caretakers, and counselors, fostering unity and resilience within the family through different domestic violence programs. Protecting women from violence, abuse, and infidelity is crucial, as many women remain vulnerable to exploitation, domestic violence, and social oppression.

Psychosocial support and empowerment initiatives are essential to genuinely supporting women's roles. These can motivate and strengthen them as they continue improving family dynamics. Key strategies include assisting women in gaining greater control over their livelihoods and providing avenues for self-empowerment.

The acceptance of domestic violence, particularly among women, is a significant issue influenced by deep-rooted cultural norms, patriarchy, and traditional gender roles that promote subservience to men. This acceptance often hinders women's ability to seek help and support. Studies in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa have shown that factors such as age, education, and wealth shape decision-making capacities, which can affect intimate partner violence (IPV) rates. In Middle Eastern societies, entrenched patriarchal structures and limited legal protections for women further normalize such violence, leaving many survivors fearful of speaking out due to cultural stigmas and retaliation.

Poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to essential healthcare services exacerbate this situation, often resulting in neglect and abuse of women's rights. Additional risk factors include unsafe neighborhoods, partners with multiple relationships, and lower educational attainment. Women from rural areas, where patriarchal values are more pronounced, also show a higher acceptance of domestic violence due to limited financial and employment opportunities. These attitudes are reinforced by cultural narratives that emphasize male authority and female subjugation. Above are some domestic violence types women face.

However, technology offers a promising avenue for empowerment. Access to mobile phones, computers, and the internet can provide women with critical information, support networks, and resources that bolster their independence and reduce tolerance for domestic violence. Digital literacy and online platforms can create opportunities for education, employment, and support networks, helping domestic violence victims and women assert their rights. Women with access to digital tools are more likely to report violence, seek help, and connect with communities for emotional support, especially in areas where physical mobility may be restricted.

Yet, technology can also have a downside, as some studies reveal that it may facilitate IPV through digital monitoring, tracking apps, or social media harassment. Nonetheless, empowerment technology can go beyond device access; it fosters digital literacy and encourages women to use online platforms for self-advancement, education, and building robust support networks.