The Cyclical Nature of Violence: Examining the Relationship Between Exposure to Violence as a Child, Violence Against Women and Gender Norms in Pakistan

Abstract

Violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC) are serious public health issues that have an impact on millions of people globally. This thesis aimed to explore the relationship between exposure to violence as a child and tolerance of violence against women in Pakistan, a country with deeply ingrained patriarchal norms. The study also investigated the impact gender norms has on this relationship. The research questions for this study were: To what extent does exposure to violence as a child affect men and women’s feelings of tolerance of violence against women in a domestic setting? Do gender norms affect the strength of this relationship? This thesis utilized existing data from the 2017 IMAGES survey conducted in Pakistan. To investigate this relationship, three binary logistic regression models were conducted. However, the study did not yield significant results. Future research in this field should have a focus on culture and consider its impact on the recognition of violence.