The Explorer: Journal of Social Sciences

ISSN: 2411-0132, Vol-1, Issue (3):88-93

www.theexplorerpak.org

CAUSES, FORMS AND LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN MUZAFFARABAD: AZAD

JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Farooq Abdullah1, Muhammad Shahzad2, Farhan Riaz2, Muhammad Shakeel2, Imran Abbasi2
1
University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 2PMAS-Arid Agricultural University, Rawalpindi
Corresponding Author:
Khawaja Farooq Abdullah
Department of Sociology and Rural Development UAJK
gemini.soc@hotmail.com
Abstract: The present study was conducted in Muzaffarabad. It focused the forms of domestic violence prevalent in the
society along with the levels and causes which have enduring impacts on the lives of women in the area. Objectives: The
objectives of study were to determine causes, levels and forma of domestic violence and comparison of violence against
women in urban and rural area of Muzaffarabad. Method: Both paradigms, quantitative and qualitative, were merged to
conduct the study. The sample size was taken 600 equally 300 from urban and rural area. The respondents were
enumerated through a well structured quantitative questionnaire and interview schedule through convenience sampling
technique. The data was analyzed through SPSS 16.00 version. Results: The causes of domestic violence were found as
alcoholism, drug addiction, unemployment, financial matters and psychological issues. Two main forms of domestic
violence were found physical and psychological. Physical violence found 7.1% in rural area and 8.7% in urban area among
the 300 respondents each along psychological violence in rural area was found 99.6% and in urban area it was found 100%.
The overall ratio of physical violence found 15.8% while psychological violence 99.8% recorded. It signifies that domestic
violence is more prevalent in urban setting rather than rural.

Key Words: Psychological, Physical, Customary, Deterrence, Intimate

INTRODUCTION
Domestic Violence
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines
domestic violence as any act of gender-based
violence that results in, or is likely to result in,
physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to
women, including threats of such acts, coercion or
arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in
public or in private life. The important cause of
mortality of women is manifested in domestic
violence which is customary in each country (World
Health Organization 1996).
Symonides & Volodin (2002) quoted, definition of
United Nations General Assembly violence against
women as: Any act of gender based violence that
results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or
mental harm or suffering to women, including threats
of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of
liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.
A study describes the prevalence of intimate partner
violence was detailed in the range of 30% to 79%
(Fikree and Bhatti 1999).The women are marginalized
in many kind of domestic violence in developing

countries and it is a concern of public health issue

(Heise and Pitanguy 1994). The women had been
victims of domestic violence in many countries as
34% I Egypt (Diop- Sidible, et al. 2006), 17% in Canada
(Cohen, et al. 2005) and 16.4% in Haiti (Gage 2005).
in medical clinic of Sudan reported in 2001 reported
that low educational status, unemployed and new
married women are abused (Ahmed and Elmardi
2005). Women has right to participate fully in society
across the cultural and religious barriers (Watta and
Zammerman 2002). The situation of domestic
violence in Pakistan neither GOs nor NGOs intend to
prevent it and lack the basic data behind violence.
The women from all socioeconomic and educational
classes suffer from violence vulnerable (Alvarez and
Ashton 2004).
Forms of Domestic Violence
The forms of domestic violence discussed are
physical, psychological and sexual (Fee, et al. 2002;
Farid et al. 2008). Shaheed described that the
violence diverge consequently. The state of domestic
violence in rural area is grimmer than that of the
urban area. According to a 2008 HRCP report, 80

88

percent of wives in rural Punjab feared violence from

their husbands, and nearly 50 percent of wives in
developed urban areas admitted that their husbands
beat them. Traditional customs are more
approximate in rural are and the women are used to
settle conflict (Shaheed 1990). Domestic violence is
blueprint of physical, sexual and psychological misuse
by someone with whom woman has had intimate
relationship (American Medical Association 1992).
Psychological forms of domestic violence include
behavior, economic abuse and social isolation (HajYahia 2000; Cohen, et al. 2000). Physical violence has
several serious facets and injuries in developing
countries women are more prone to domestic
violence as in Karachi study indicate that all husbands
yell at their wives even during pregnancy (Sheikh
2000). 19-69% women found victim of physical abuse
from partner (Krung, et al. 2002). 32% confessed to
slap their wives and 77.1% confessed the sexual
abuse. Another study held in Karachi reported that
34% women physically abused by husband and 15%
even pregnant women abused (Fikree and Bhatti
1999). 72% physically abused women were depressed
while a study in 2005 on 176% married men showed
that 94.9% women were verbally abused whereas
49.4% physically abused in the marital life (Fikree, et
al. 2005).
Causes of Domestic Violence
Some ancient traditions and customs still prevalent in
Pakistan which contains marriage exchanges,
marriages with Quran, Karo Kari, Honor killing and
Dowry. Furthermore, misapprehension of religious
teachings is another facet which makes women more
susceptible to violence (Niaz and Hassan 2006). Price
explored numerous causes of domestic violence in
Pakistan. One of the most important is poverty
whereas in the patriarchal culture in Pakistan;
typically the men enjoy all the privileges and decision
making rights. The reported dynamics accountable
for domestic violence in Pakistan are daily conflicts
and misunderstanding at household level on
decisions and family problems including the
preferences and financial insecurity compel the
partners to violence.
Every third woman in Pakistan is illiterate and
ignorant in relation to their rights. In Pakistan,
Poverty and ignorance allow religious dogma to be
accepted without question. Illiteracy, ignorance,
superstition, fatalism and blind faith in clergy
(religious leaders) are great allies in the maintenance

of the status quo, providing a sound basis for an

extreme form of patriarchal society (Babur, 2007). It
is unfortunate that women in Pakistan are the major
victims of this patriarchal and traditional narrowmindedness. Hype is being created by the electronic
media through the news and develop opinion which
tends to anarchy in the society. In case of rape media
portray the picture and even the footage indicate the
demonization. In dramas, advertisements and news
regarding the women are used as sex objects
depicting their subordinate position and undermining
their capabilities. The media portrayal also aspire the
youth to practice what is being envisaged (Ahmar
2004). In-laws also commit violence against women,
the extended family system in Pakistan also cause
domestic violence and women face harassment from
whole family (Sami and Ali 2006; Irfan and Badar
2002). Education improved women status, increased
their contribution to household and awarded more
freedom and lessens the dependency (Bates, et al.
2004).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present research was hearted on the causes,
levels and forms of domestic violence on women
prevalent in the rural and urban areas of
Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and to
compare the rural urban extent of domestic violence.
The urban area consist of two wards of Khawaja
Muhalla while rural areas comprised six villages of
Neelum and Jehlum valley with sample size of 50
households from each village. A quantitative and
qualitative research was conducted with a sample
size 600, 300 each from rural and urban area on
household level by using non-probability, convenient
sampling technique. A well structured close ended
questionnaire along with interview guide was
designed to collect data from the respondents. The
data were collected by researcher along with key
informants and hence analyzed. SPSS version 13.00
was used for the analysis of data.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The purpose of study was to discuss with the
respondents and to extract their responses regarding
the domestic violence, its forms, and levels and
compare the extent of violence in urban and rural
areas. The findings which are drawn from the
respondents in the light of the objectives are
discussed and summarized to draw the conclusions.
The conclusions are presented from the findings
through a careful analysis as given below:
89

Causes Of Domestic Violence In Rural And Urban Areas

Responses
Agreed
Disagreed
Total

Table. 1: Distribution of Responses regarding Causes of Domestic Violence

Causes
Alcoholism
Media Drug
Social
Unemployment
Financial
Addiction
Exclusion
Constraints
473
42
484
150
438
416
127
568
116
450
168
184
600
600
600
600
600
600

The question asked from women regarding the

causes of the domestic violence and the respondent
seen enthusiastic to respond through multi responses
check list. There were seven causes enlisted in it and
the women responded most of the options. The
women were also asked whether to combat this issue
or not, the greater ratio 94% of respondents directly
supported that it should be eradicated. The causes
were Alcoholism, Media, Drug addiction, Social
exclusion, Unemployment, Financial constraints and
the Psychological problems. Out of 600 sample size,
12 respondents disagreed with the given causes and
did not show their intension in this regard.
Alcoholism was reported by 473 respondents which is
a high ratio considered for the domestic violence and

Psychological
Problems
335
265
600

may lead some others reasons. A low ratio of 42

respondents reported media as a cause of domestic
violence. Drug addiction was reported by the 484
respondents which is alarming beside the alcoholism.
The women reported that drug addiction is also a
main reason for violence. The ratio of social exclusion
is not considerably high but 150 respondents
reported that social exclusion is the cause behind the
domestic violence. The unemployment ratio is great
as 438 respondents reported that unemployment
leads to domestic violence. Financial constraints were
reported by the 416 women, the severe cause of the
domestic violence and 335 women reported that
psychological problems are also a serious threat to
domestic violence.

Comparison And Analysis, The Prevalence Of Domestic Violence In Rural And Urban Areas
Table. 2: Distribution of Comparison and Analysis of Rural and Urban Domestic Violence

No Violence
Mild Violence
Moderate Violence
High Violence
Very High Violence
Total

Physical Violence
Psychological Violence

Physical Violence
Rural
Urban
42.8%
41.3%
4.5%
5.5%
2.0%
2.0%
0.3%
1.0%
0.3%
0.2%
50%
50%
Comparison
Rural
7.1%
49.8%

Physical Violence
Out of the 300 respondents of rural area, 42.8% did
not face any physical violence whereas 4.5% faced
mild physical violence, 2% faced moderate physical
violence and 0.3% high and very high physical
violence. In urban area 41.3% faced no physical
violence whereas 5.5% faced mild physical violence,
2.0% faced moderate and 1.0% faced high physical
violence while very high physical violence was faced
by 0.2% women.
Psychological Violence
The psychological violence in rural areas was
determined, 0.2% faced no psychological violence

Psychological Violence
Rural
Urban
0.2%
0
47.5%
42.8%
2.3%
7%
0
0.2%
0
0
50%
50%
Urban
8.7%
50%

Total
15.8%
99.8%

whereas 47.5% faced mild psychological violence and

2.3% faced moderate psychological violence. High
and very high psychological violence was not
reported. In urban areas, 42.8% faced mild
psychological violence, 7% faced moderate
psychological violence and 0.2% faced high
psychological
violence
whereas
very
high
psychological violence was not reported.
Comparison
Among 300 respondents, 7.1% faced physical
violence in rural areas while 8.7% respondents faced
physical violence in urban areas. The psychological
violence is faced by 49.8% respondents in rural areas
90

whereas 50% respondents faced psychological

violence in urban areas. It is concluded from above
discussions that ratio of physical and psychological
violence is greater in urban areas than the rural.
Physical ratio of physical and psychological violence is
greater in urban areas than the rural. Physical
violence in rural area is reported 7.1%% while in
urban areas it is 8.7% and psychological violence is
99.6% in rural area whereas all the respondents in
urban areas face psychological violence.
120.00%
100.00%
80.00%
60.00%
40.00%
20.00%

Psychological
Violence
Physical
Violence

0.00%

Figure. 1: Comparison of Rural and Urban Domestic

Violence

The Level of Physical and Psychological Violence in

the Area
The level of physical violence consequences that
84.2% women reported non-existence of physical
violence whereas 10% were found to be victim of
mild physical violence, 4.2% faced moderate physical
violence, 1% faced high physical violence and 0.5%
faced very high physical violence. The psychological
violence was not reported by 0.2% respondents
whereas 90.3% faced mild psychological violence,
9.3% faced moderate psychological violence and 0.2%
faced high psychological violence. The physical
violence is less prevalent as compared to the
psychological violence, by the above data it is evident
that only 15.8% respondents faced physical violence
and the ratio of high and very high violence is very
low whereas the psychological violence exist, 99.8%
faced psychological violence in case of mild,
moderate and high while very high psychological
violence does not exist.
Forms of Domestic Violence
The respondents were eager to respond the question:
forms of domestic violence enumerated as physical
and psychological where as the sexual violence was
not reported as per understanding of violence the

respondents faced physical and domestic violence in

many forms and the level varies as from no violence
to the very high violence indicating that violence exist
in the society but the ration has been explored very
low so the case studies of severe violence were not
found in the area and women were more conscious
about their husbands and usually suffer psychological
violence from their inmate partner. The proportion of
physical violence had been hunted in rural and. urban
area and the astonishing obsession noted that both
physical and psychological violence has greater ration
in urban area. The rural women were found more
aware of their rights and obligations as it was
preconceived that they would be less conscious.
CONCLUSION
The study concluded that causes of domestic violence
are heinous and especially the alcoholism, drug
addiction, unemployment, financial matters and
psychological issues are more prevalent at the
present time and women are the vulnerable because
they have to bear upon the impacts of such causes.
The frustrated intimate partner, however, face
problems and resultantly experience violence to their
female partners but the extent of violence has had
been very low. There had not been found any severe
or police case which could be an evidence to allege
the deterrence. The women were enough aware of
domestic violence, its forms along the levels and
trends in the society. The forms of domestic violence
are physical and psychological whereas other forms
are not found in which 15.8% face physical violence
and 99.8% face psychological violence. Domestic
violence is customary in society as physical violence
found 7.1% in rural area and 8.7% in urban area
among the 300 respondents each along psychological
violence in rural area was found 99.6% and in urban
area it was found 100%. The overall ratio of physical
violence found 15.8% while psychological violence
99.8% recorded. It signifies that domestic violence is
more prevalent in urban setting rather than rural.
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