INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, A CASE STUDY OF LAHORE

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is a social issue in Pakistan. In this study, intimate partner means husband wife relationship. This study contributes to our understanding of the complex causes of intimate partner violence against women in Lahore as well as how the role of societal support for women can play in lowering the prevalence of IPV there. During semi-structured interviews with participants, the most prevalent types of violence were sexual and financial abuse in addition to psychological and physical abuse. The purpose of this research is to emphasize individual, cultural, and societal viewpoints on violence using theories of violence and gender discrimination. This paper uses a qualitative approach to gather evidence against intimate partner violence in Lahore. Six different locations in Lahore city have been targeted for interviewing participants with snowball sampling technique. Married female participants have different socio-economic and demographic backgrounds. Housewives have been found to be the most victims of intimate partner violence compared to employed married women. There is no pause of violence against women, people have different and recognized approaches to intimate partner violence. Women are taught to keep silent, and it has been observed that it is exceedingly challenging for the family to believe a woman if she claims that her husband has assaulted her. A male-dominated culture in society and the family, according to research, may be a factor in IPV. Participants Housewives are expected to carry out their responsibilities and tasks flawlessly while being viewed as less capable of making household decisions. This is because the financial burden on a man can led to violent incidents in a relationship. The conflicting results were evident to the extent that the political crisis prompted men to physically beat their wives. Moreover, low social interaction and low self-esteem are observed among housewives, while employed women somehow manage to handle the pressure of intimate partner violence against them. Employed women are less economically dependent on their husbands, which reduces the economic burden on men. To combat IPV against women, this paper's policy prescription emphasizes social, legal, and individual contributions. Policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and human rights officials will be guided by the findings of this study, and they attempt to understand the prevalence and root causes of violence against women.