'Even though a man takes the major role, he has no right to abuse': future male leaders' views on gender-based violence in Sri Lanka

Sexual Harassment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Sexual harassment is a pervasive form of gender-based violence that has negative social and health impacts, yet there is only limited research available on sexual harassment in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this qualitative systematic review was to better understand how participants across a variety of countries and settings conceptualized sexual harassment and to investigate its causal factors, consequences, coping strategies, and recommendations for prevention and interventions. We searched eight databases and included English language qualitative studies published from 1990 until June 2021 if they mentioned sexual harassment in LMICs and included female or male participants aged 12 and older. This resulted in 34 included studies. Overall, this review established that sexual harassment was salient in participants' lives, yet their conceptualizations of sexual harassment varied widely and were strongly influenced by contextual and sociocultural factors. Overall, our review has highlighted (1) the conflation of sexual harassment and sexual violence, (2) the intersections of gendered power with other hierarchies of authority, age, and socio-economic status and how the role of power is different in street versus educational and workplace settings, (3) the patriarchal norms, gender inequalities, and normalization of gender-based violence that enable sexual harassment and silence those affected by it, (4) the varied expectations of how women should cope with sexual harassment in order for their experiences to be validated, and (5) the need for gender norms change and fair and effective policies in order to not only prevent sexual harassment but also address the underlying causes.

Opinions of male nursing students about violence against women: A qualitative study

AIM

This study aims to explore the opinions of male nursing students on violence against women in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of violence against women in the world is increasing every passing day. Although women try to deal with the changes their lives bring along, they are faced with physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence for various reasons at the same time.

BACKGROUND

Inclusion of men in studies can have a strong impact on how strategies are developed and implemented. Tackling the issue of violence against women requires active engagement of men and, therefore, knowing the knowledge, attitudes, and understanding of male nursing students is important.

METHODS

In this qualitative study, 18 male nursing students participated. The participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected through individual semi structured interviews. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method designed by Clarke and Braun.

FINDINGS

The findings of the study are presented in seven themes and these are definition of violence, causes of violence, reactions to witnessing violence, impacts of violence on society, solutions to violence, efforts regarding violence in Turkey, and being a male nurse. Among the striking results of the study were that students considered violence with its many dimensions, that they stated that violence could be prevented, that they found that efforts regarding the issue were insufficient in Turkey, and that they stated that important responsibilities for preventing violence against women lay with nurses.

CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Students considered violence and its various dimensions. They felt that violence could be prevented, that the efforts regarding the issue were insufficient in Turkey, and that important responsibilities for preventing violence against women lay with nurses. The views of male nursing students on violence against women are promising as it encourages the empowerment of future nurse professionals, who are expected to be the pioneers of necessary changes in the field of health in order to defend women.

"It Gives You a Feeling of Pride when You Touch Her": The Role of Masculinity in Sexual Harassment of Adolescent Schoolgirls in Tanzania

Sexual harassment or the unwanted offensive behaviours that women and girls experience is a pervasive global challenge. Yet, there is limited evidence on the lived experiences of sexual harassment from school-based settings in sub-Saharan Africa. We explore students' perceived experiences, perpetration, and drivers of sexual harassment in schools in Mwanza, Tanzania. This study employed a qualitative research design involving 30 in-depth interviews and seven focus group discussions with 30 male and 40 female secondary school pupils aged 13-19 years. Data was analysed using a thematic approach. The findings show that experiences of sexual harassment among schoolgirls were widespread. Common forms of harassment were verbal and non-verbal gestures of a sexual nature. The desire to prove one's masculinity and peer pressure were key drivers of perpetration among schoolboys. Teachers took advantage of their positions of authority to sexually harass female pupils and employed corporal punishment to those who resisted their advances. Sexual harassment had multiple negative outcomes, including schoolgirls dropping out of school and mental health issues, such as anxiety, stress and poor academic performance. Girls rarely reported sexual harassment for fear of further victimisation and stigma from others. Sexual harassment of girls is common in secondary schools in Mwanza and is mainly driven by peer pressure and the desire to prove one's masculinity. Given its harmful effects, there is a need to implement clear policies to protect girls, support confidential disclosure and reporting and to address toxic masculinity norms among young men.

Men's conceptualization of gender-based violence directed to women in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, South Africa

BACKGROUND

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a crucial global public health challenge disenfranchising women and girls from enjoying their fundamental human rights, thereby threatening their well-being. While the concept of GBV does not imply that violence is always unidirectional, literature shows that women and girls are the most common victims of this type of violence. One in three women, globally, have suffered physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner. Evidence has shown that a number of women who experience GBV varies widely, with 37% being in Eastern Mediterranean, 37.7% in South-East Asia, 29.8% in America, 36.6% in Africa, 44% in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and 53% in South Africa.

METHODS

Using a semi-structured face-to-face interview with fifteen conveniently sampled adult males, who met the selection criteria, this study explored men's conceptualisation of GBV in Alexandra Township, using qualitative research methods.

RESULTS

Socio-economic factors and evolving cultural dynamics were perceived to be among the key factors aggravating gender-based violence. Participants viewed poverty and substance abuse as the main causes of violence towards women, a phenomenon tied to the growing frustration emanating from men's inability to provide for their families. Cultural factors related to the patriarchal system and diminishing value of respect between men and women were identified as root causes of GBV. The participants also blamed the government for what they considered to be "too many rights" for women, resulting in men exerting their authority through abuse. Participants also expressed concerns over feminisation of GBV, asserting that men fall prey to GBV too. Partner infidelity and insecurities also contributed to GBV.

CONCLUSION

The study results provided important insights on how men conceptualize GBV in Alexandra Township, South Africa. These results revealed that socio-economic conditions, alongside some gender stereotypes are pervasive and shape how men view GBV in Alexandra Township. This evidence is necessary for developing interventions aimed at curbing GBV and may also be suggestive of the need to redesign programmes targeting men, so that certain stereotypes can be uprooted.

The impact of violence on women’s health. The present as a reflection of the past: A qualitative study

The objective of the study is to analyze the impact of violence on women’s health and the feelings generated during the period of exposure to violence. This is a qualitative study with an interpretative phenomenological design in which 16 women participated—4 through interviews and 12 through stories. The data obtained were analyzed using the Colaizzi approach. The results were structured into 3 themes according to how the women interpreted their experiences. The themes were physical consequences: visible traces; psychological consequences: stormy days and sunny days; and social consequences: from loneliness to a new world. In conclusion, the women in this study considered all those (very diverse) physical pathologies to be important. They encompassed a series of psychological disorders that lasted over time, causing considerable suffering and complicating the participants’ ability to relate to the rest of society, especially men. Similarly, the participants identified a series of positive consequences when they left the traumatic situation empowered after overcoming gender-based violence.

Ragging as an expression of power in a deeply divided society; a qualitative study on students perceptions on the phenomenon of ragging at a Sri Lankan university

Initiation rituals such as hazing, bullying, and ragging, as it is referred to in Sri Lanka, is a global phenomenon and has become a serious public health problem. Students are bullied and harassed by senior students causing them to suffer severe adverse consequences including depression, increased university dropouts and suicide. Although this has led to a significant burden on the country, research on ragging is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of students concerning the phenomenon of ragging and to understand how ragging affects student life and culture at the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. This paper is based on 17 focus group discussions with male and female students of Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim ethnicity. Thematic analysis was employed to navigate through the theoretical lenses of structural violence, intersectionality, and social dominance. The findings revealed how students perceived ragging differently; as an expression of power to initiate order and as a way to express dissatisfaction towards social inequalities occurring within the larger society or to facilitate bonds between university students. Students trivialized violence related to ragging and accepted it as a part of the university subculture despite being aware of the dire consequences. There was a described cyclical nature to ragging whereby victims become perpetrators. The student’s perspective appeared to be a missed opportunity in finding feasible solutions to a societal problem that must take all parties involved, into consideration.

Men's Perceptions of Violence against Women: Improving Cultural Literacy for Combating Violence within Family

While research evidence exists about Jordanian men's perceptions and attitudes about violence against women (VAW), there is a scientific gap for addressing VAW as a Jordanian cultural norm. This study aimed to describe Jordanian men's perceptions and attitudes toward VAW, leading factors for VAW, and strategies to combat VAW. A qualitative descriptive design was used with 14 Jordanian men and semi-structured interviews. Nine themes emerged: men's definitions of VAW, men's beliefs and attitudes about VAW, men's feelings toward VAW, intensifying factors for VAW, men's justification for women staying in abusive relationships, the hazardous impact of VAW, experience of using violence against wives, men's strategies for combating VAW, and absence or limited role of services for victims of VAW. Men in many cultures including Jordan inherit structured patriarchal ideology, which gives men the perceived right to control women and to manage familial conflict. Inherited cultural beliefs about male roles within families should be restructured by collaborating with community stakeholders to combat VAW.

'Violence exists to show manhood': Nepali men's views on domestic violence - a qualitative study

Background

There is significant evidence of the prevalence and factors associated with domestic violence in high and low-income country settings. However, men’s views on domestic violence are still understudied and have never been reported in Nepali society.

Objective

The aim of the study was to explore Nepali men’s perceptions regarding domestic violence in their communities.

Method

The authors undertook a qualitative study using focus group discussions.

Results

Sixty-six married men, considered they were responsible for upholding family discipline and physically demonstrating their masculinity, and they suggested that violence was a mean for achieving this. Men’s frustration when unable to fulfil their family’s expectations or material needs, and cultural attitudes that precluded interference in other families’ lives, were perceived as factors contributing to domestic violence. The men held the opinion that women also perpetrated domestic violence. Some men were reluctant to accept domestic violence as a norm in Nepali families and were aware of recent changes in societal expectations regarding gender roles.

Conclusion

Overall, the Nepali men who participated in the study held different and sometimes opposing views on domestic violence, ranging from violence justified as a necessity for family discipline, uneasy acceptance that violence was commonplace in families, to definite opposition to the use of domestic violence. The study’s findings provide information for identifying points of intervention for violence-prevention efforts and strategies to alter the social and cultural norms that lead to acceptance of domestic violence.

A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey on canine rabies prevention and control in four rural areas of Sri Lanka

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects all mammals. It causes an estimated 59,000 human deaths worldwide annually. Dogs are the main reservoir and transmitter of rabies to human in Sri Lanka. Prevention and control measures include the mass vaccination of dogs and human post-exposure treatment. While these measures appear to be homogeneous across the country, there is a need to identify community-level gaps due to the decentralization of regional health and veterinary services in conducting such activities. A community-based questionnaire survey was conducted to identify potential risk factors and gaps related to knowledge, attitudes and practices on rabies prevention and control in the rural regions of Sri Lanka. Lower knowledge scores were associated with respondents between 18 and 38 years old, had no experience of being bitten, and own semi-independent dogs. Despite associated fear of stray dogs with health issues, some communities provide shelter and/or food for the stray dogs. Uptake of population control and vaccination of dogs across the grama niladhari divisions (GNDs), which are the smallest administrative units, differed. More than 80% of dogs were not desexed and community knowledge on vaccination delivery, booster and vaccination schedules were also variable. Even though 69% of respondents identified stray/community dogs as potential carriers' owners allow their dogs to roam the neighbourhood. Most of the respondents were able to identify the need for post-exposure treatment after a dog bite. However, post-exposure prophylaxis uptake by the local victims ranged between 83.00% and 87.50%. Low participation was reported in health education in the communities. Lack of knowledge on other potential carriers was similar to previous survey studies in the last decade. Collaborations between local communities, veterinary and medical services are necessary to scale up the control programme in order to achieve the global target of zero rabies deaths by 2030. Further community-level studies are recommended.

The relationship between domestic violence and the attitudes of women towards honor, gender roles, and wife-beating in Turkey

PURPOSE

Violence against women (VAM) is still considered a global health problem and is highly prevalent in Turkey. This study aimed to determine the relationship between women's exposure to spousal/partner violence and their attitudes towards honor, social gender roles, and beating in Turkey.

METHODS

The study was designed as descriptive and completed with 847 women in Turkey. Data were collected with a questionnaire, the Attitudes towards Honor Scale (AHS), the Attitudes towards Wife-beating Scale (ATWB), and the Gender Roles Attitudes Scale (GRA).

RESULTS

The median age of the women was 34 (18-67) years. It was found that 23% of the women were exposed to physical violence, 46.8% to verbal violence, 33.6% to emotional violence, 21.1% to sexual abuse, and 13% to economic violence. There was a negative relationship between GRA score and ATWB and AHS scores. It was determined that the attitude of an individual towards social gender posed a risk for physical (p = 0.037) and sexual violence (p = 0.037), the attitude towards honor posed a risk for sexual violence (p = 0.002), and that the attitude towards wife-beating posed a risk for all types of violence including physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, and economic violence (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

As women's egalitarian attitudes towards social gender increased, their approving attitudes towards wife-beating, supervision of women by their family members, and their association with family honor decreased. Community-based interventions that promote egalitarian social gender roles could reduce VAM in this community.

The effect of a community based health promotion intervention to change gender norms among women in a rural community in Sri Lanka

BACKGROUND

Gender norms practiced by respective societies increase the risk of violence by men against women. To date, there is a dearth of research evidence on changing gender norms through health promotion approaches around the globe, including in Sri Lanka. This study provides an evaluation of effectiveness of a health promotion intervention in changing the acceptance of gender norms among women.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted in two rural villages in Anuradhapura district in Sri Lanka including women who have a child under five years of age. One village was allocated to receive an intervention developed based on a health promotion approach and the other village was a control. A community based mechanism to question selected gender norms among women was developed as the intervention. The pre- and post-intervention assessments of the level of acceptance of gender norms were done using an interviewer administered questionnaire and by using focus group discussions.

RESULTS

Following the intervention, acceptances of prominent gender norms were changed significantly among the women receiving the intervention method. The control group showed no changes towards the acceptance of gender norms during this period. Women in the intervention group had higher levels of self-reported positive behavior changes and greater understanding of gender concepts compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

The acceptance of gender norms among women in rural villages in Sri Lanka can be changed by a community based intervention targeting gender norms.