Analysis of non-conventional indicators of gender relations: Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

The paper deals with the critical issue of gender-based violence in Pakistani society. The evidence presented in this paper shows that violence against women has increased in the decade of 1990s. Major reasons for the crime/violence are economic hardships, domestic and community pressures, rise in unemployment rate, and lower education of the abusers. Furthermore, controlling violence requires efforts at the domestic, community, and national level. Since, in most cases, women depend emotionally and financially on the abusers, it becomes critical how women experience violence and how to intervene to reduce gender-based violence effectively. Lack of technical competence and resources, cultural stereotypes, negative social attitude, institutional constraints, and women's reluctance to disclose violence are the major barriers to controlling violence. Thus, in order to reduce gender-based violence, there is a need to empower women, raise the cost to abusers, provide for the needs of victims, reach out to abusers and other men, create an effective legal cover for victims, and raise awareness in the community.