The Impact of Income on Gender-Based Violence: A Case of Matabeleland South

Abstract

The study assessed the effects of income on gender-based violence using a multinomial logistic regression and an ANOVA test to model the cross-sectional data collected from a survey of 305 respondents in Bulilima district, Matabeleland South province, Zimbabwe. The study is significant as understanding the role of income on gender-based violence guides policymakers in eradicating gender-based violence since it entails more economic costs such as lost wages, productivity and it also drains resources from justice, health and social service which slackens the effectiveness of poverty reduction programs. The results showed that more women than men experienced gender-based violence. Also, an increase in the proportion of women engaged in any economic activity was associated with the risk of encountering sexual and emotional violence. In addition, the likelihood of experiencing emotional violence increased with every Rand in income for a woman. The study recommends the government to prioritize employment creation and financial empowerment through promoting and supporting agricultural operations so that men retain their social role of providing for the family. Furthermore, monetary policies that benefit both men and women in small and medium-sized businesses should be implemented to increase household incomes.