Women’s autonomy and spousal violence in India: An analysis of NFHS–3 data

Abstract

In this chapter, we examine the relationship between women’s autonomy and the experience of physical violence from spouses in India. Our analysis is based on data from the National Family Health Survey–3, which was conducted between 2005 and 2006. The data was analysed through simple and multi-level mixed logistical regression models. The results showed that women’s autonomy had an independent effect on the experience of physical violence from a spouse, even if contextual and other confounding factors were controlled. In particular, compared to their counterparts who had a lower level of autonomy, women having a high level of autonomy were significantly less likely to experience physical violence from their spouses. Moreover, the results show that the effect of women’s autonomy on the experience of violence from spouse could be explained based on a woman’s exposure to media and her self-esteem.