In e na ional Jou nal o Human Resea ch and Social Science S udies
ISSN(p): 3050-547X, ISSN(e): 3050-5488
Volume 02 Issue 11 No embe , 2025
DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.55677/ijh sss/19-2025-Vol02I11
Page No : 924-932
Page 924 o 932
Domes ic Violence and i s e ec s on Women De elopmen in Sou h Eas e n
Nige ia
Chidimma S ella Ikea1, Chike e – Njoku2, C, Hen y Alisigwe3
1Depa men o Philosophy, Imo S a e Uni e si y, Owe i, Nige ia.
2Depa men o Soil Science and En i onmen , Imo S a e Uni e si y, Nige ia.
3Facul y o Law, Imo S a e Uni e si y, Nige ia.
ABSTRACT: Domes ic iolence is ano he o m o gende -based iolence as well as cul u al
p ac ices a ec ing women and women de elopmen in Nige ian socie y. I can be de ined as
any o m o pu pose ul, des uc i e and coe ci e beha io , used agains one’s in ima e spouse
o pa ne . This esea ch wo k exposes he concep o domes ic iolence and how i a ec s
women de elopmen in he sou h eas e n Nige ia, especially Imo and Anamb a s a es.
Women occupy a g ea e pe cen age o he human popula ion; hence wha e e a ec s hem
a ec s he socie y. Domes ic iolence comes in di e en o ms, such as physical,
psychological, emo ional, sexual, e bal o economic. The p oblem is ha domes ic iolence
is becoming a no mal way o li e, as in mos cases, women a e ad ised o conceal his spousal
abuse, as i uous women and also o sa e hei ma iages. I u he disco e s ha i has
nega i e impac s on he li e, de elopmen and wellbeing o he woman. In o he wo ds, his
ac has psychological e ec /damage on women. I can also lead o de o mi y, psychological
auma and e en ual dea h. I he e o e concludes ha domes ic iolence iola es women’s
undamen al igh s, as such emains unaccep able in he socie y.
Co esponding Au ho :
Chidimma S ella Ikea
KEYWORDS:
Domes ic Violence, women,
women de elopmen , human
digni y, sou heas .
INTRODUCTION
Violence, which is as old as humani y, can be seen as any use o o ce, e bal, w i en, physical o psychological agains any
pe son by an indi idual o g oup wi h he aim o di ec ly o indi ec ly causing ha m, opp ession o inju y.
Domes ic iolence is one o he issues as well as cul u al p ac ices a ec ing women and he socie y in Nige ia. I can be de ined as
any o m o pu pose ul, des uc i e and coe ci e beha io , used agains one’s in ima e spouse o pa ne . Acco ding o Anne L.
Ganley, (1981:16) Domes ic iolence is a pa e n o assaul i e and coe ci e beha io s, including physical, sexual, and
psychological a acks, as well as economic coe cion, ha adul s o adolescen s use agains hei in ima e pa ne . In o he wo ds,
his o m o assaul can be physical, sexual, psychological, as well as economic.
To I.B Naik (2016:1698), domes ic iolence e e s o in e pe sonal iolence, which akes place in domes ic se ing, amily
ela ionship and in ima e ela ionship.
Domes ic iolence occu s in in ima e pa ne ela ionships, whe e he pe pe a o and ic ims a e cu en ly o ha e been
p e iously da ing, cohabi ing, ma ied o di o ced. They may be he e osexual, gay o lesbian and may ha e child en in common
o no (Anne L Ganley, 2002:60). Wi e/ spouse abuse, ma i al assaul , woman ba e y, wi e bea ing, conjugal iolence, in ima e
iolence, among o he s, all unde hese o ms o beha iou s. This he e o e en ails ha women a e usually a he ecei ing end o
hese beha io s. Wi hin he las wo yea s, Nige ia has eco ded many dea hs o women as a esul o domes ic iolence, om
hei spouses/pa ne s.
This esea ch is he e o e in e es ed in domes ic iolence and how i a ec s women de elopmen in he socie y. When he issue o
women is aised, he issue o de elopmen is also aised. This is because one canno discuss de elopmen wi hou women. Based
on ha , he ques ions become wha is domes ic iolence? Is he beha iou mo ally jus i ied and accep able? Does i abuse he
undamen al igh o he woman? How does i a ec he socie al de elopmen ? Does i ha e posi i e e ec s on he socie y? These
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ques ions and many o i s kind a e he consequences o he issues emana ing om his esea ch and he p ac ice o domes ic
iolence.
S a emen o P oblem
Domes ic iolence (DV) is one o he deep- oo ed cul u al p ac ices ha iola e he igh , alue and digni y o womanhood. I is a
o m o disc imina ion agains women based on inequali ies be ween he sexes, hence o ms one o he a ge s o Sus ainable
De elopmen Goals (SDGs) (which is he elimina ion o all ha m ul p ac ices including gende -based iolence by he yea 2030).
Domes ic iolence is a pe asi e issue ha poses a signi ican h ea o he physical, emo ional, psychological well-being and
de elopmen o women. In Anamb a and Imo S a es, he p e alence o domes ic iolence has been exace ba ed by socio-cul u al
no ms, economic dependencies, and inadequa e en o cemen o legal p o ec ions.
Despi e a ious ad ocacy and in e en ion p og ams, many women con inue o su e in silence, wi h limi ed access o esou ces
ha could empowe hem o seek help. The e ec s o domes ic iolence a e a - eaching, leading o physical inju ies,
psychological auma, diminished sel -es eem, and dis up ed amily dynamics. This issue is he e o e a hind ance o women's
pe sonal de elopmen and socie al p og ess.
Objec i es o he S udy
The objec i e o his esea ch is o in es iga e and disco e he cul u e o domes ic iolence and i s e ec s on women
de elopmen in Imo and Anamb a s a es. In o he wo ds, his esea ch seeks o con ibu e o he body o knowledge on domes ic
iolence and p o ide ac ionable insigh s o s akeholde s, including policymake s, communi y leade s, and ad ocacy g oups, o
os e a sa e and mo e equi able socie y o women in Imo and Anamb a s a es.
I also asce ains he e ec and implica ion o Domes ic Violence (DV) in Imo and Anamb a s a es and o de e mine i he e a e
di e ences be ween hose who belie e ha DV is no mal and hose who do no belie e.
I inds ou i eligion and adi ion ha e oles o play in he p omo ion o o he wise o DV and as well as ind ou o he ac o s
ha may o he wise in luence he exis ence o DV. Some se o people ega d domes ic iolence as an in eg al pa o amily
iden i y as well as a co ec i e measu e. This will also con ibu e o knowledge.
I u he iden i ies he p e alence and o ms o domes ic iolence expe ienced by women in Imo and Anamb a s a es. In hese
s a es, he e ha e been so many cases o women who a e abused daily, while some die in he hands o he abuse s. In es iga ions
ha e shown ha he enable s a e mos ly women, p ima ily mo he s (especially hose who also expe ienced i ) and aun s, as well as
highly espec ed women in he communi ies. In o he wo ds, some mo he s a e con ibu o y o his beha iou . Fo ins ance, a
mo he encou ages he abused ma ied daugh e o endu e domes ic iolence, and keep p aying because she passed h ough i and
no hing happened o he … among o he s. This will he e o e open he eyes o he abused, in o m hem, o know domes ic
iolence iola es he igh s and pe sonhood o women.
I also examines he socio-cul u al and economic ac o s con ibu ing o domes ic iolence in he egion. I will u he e alua e
he e ec i eness o exis ing in e en ions, suppo sys ems, and legal amewo ks in add essing domes ic iolence in Imo and
Anamb a s a es and ecommend s a egies and policies o mi iga ing domes ic iolence and suppo ing su i o s e ec i ely.
This esea ch also b ings in o ligh a ious s a egies o p e en ing domes ic iolence. In o he wo ds, i makes posi i e impac
h ough awa eness c ea ion. Wi h his esea ch, he ic ims and su i o s can be helped o build con idence, igh social exclusion,
seg ega ion, aid eco e y and acili a e men al s abili y.
LITERATURE REVIEW
I.B Naik, and Abdul Ra ie Naik (20I6) Domes ic iolence e e s o in e pe sonal iolence which akes place in domes ic se ings,
amily ela ionships and in ima e ela ionships. I is also known as amily iolence o spousal abuse. Any one (men o women) can
become a domes ic iolence o ende o ic im.
To hem, domes ic iolence is an o ence and a des uc i e beha io in an in ima e ela ionship whe e one pe son ies o domina e
and con ol o he in a da ing o ma i al ela ionship o in cohabi a ion, which causes physical, psychological o sexual ha m o
hose in ha ela ionship. I includes ac s o physical agg ession like slapping, hi ing, kicking o bea ing, psychological abuse
such as in imida ion, cons an beli ling o humilia ion, o ces sexual in e cou se o any o he con olling beha io like isola ing a
pe son om amily and iends, moni o ing hei mo emen s and es ic ing access o in o ma ion o assis ance
They u he highligh he di e ence o ms o domes ic iolence such as physical, psychological, emo ional, sexual, e bal o
economic. The oo causes o domes ic iolence which includes ce ain ick ac o s such as indi idual, ela ionship, communi y,
socie al, legal and poli ical ac o s. These ac o s a e esponsible o domes ic iolence and i s consequences on he ic im’s
psychological as well as physical heal h in day- o-day li e (www.opas publishe s.com).
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Howe e , acco ding o he Uni e si y o Wes e n Cape, domes ic iolence is a pa e n o coe ci e ac ics ha can include
physical, psychological, sexual, economic, and emo ional abuse, pe pe a ed by one pe son agains an in ima e pa ne , wi h he
goal o es ablishing and main aining powe and con ol.
Abusi e beha io s a e no symp oms ha someone is ang y o ou o con ol. An abuse makes a choice o exe powe and
con ol o e his o he pa ne . Abusi e beha io s include physical, emo ional, sexual, social, and inancial abuse. Domes ic
iolence in all socio-economic g oups, all eligious g oups, all aces, all e hnic g oups and wi hin he e osexual, lesbian and gay
ela ionships, o people o all ages and physical abili ies is pe pe a ed agains women in 95% o cases
(www.uni e si yo johannesbu g.com)
Domes ic iolence is a pa e n o assaul i e and coe ci e beha io s, including physical, sexual, and psychological a acks, as well
as economic coe cion, ha adul s o adolescen s use agains hei in ima e pa ne s. She u he poin s ou he key elemen s o
domes ic iolence as: conduc pe pe a ed by adul s o adolescen s agains hei in ima e pa ne s in cu en o o me da ing,
ma ied o cohabi ing ela ionships o he e osexuals, gay men, and lesbians. A pa e n o assaul i e and coe ci e beha io s,
including physical, sexual, and psychological a acks as well as economic coe cion. A pa e n o beha io s including a a ie y o
ac ics — some physically inju ious and some no , some c iminal and some no — ca ied ou in mul iple, some imes daily
episodes. A combina ion o physical a acks, e o is ac s, and con olling ac ics used by pe pe a o s ha esul in ea as well as
physical and psychological ha m o ic ims and hei child en. A pa e n o pu pose ul beha io , di ec ed a achie ing compliance
om o con ol o e he ic im (www.bazeuni e si y.com).
To he , domes ic iolence has many names: wi e abuse, ma i al assaul , woman ba e y, spouse abuse, wi e bea ing, conjugal
iolence, in ima e iolence, ba e ing, pa ne abuse and i can come in a ious o ms such as being sho , s abbed, clubbed,
bu ned, choked, bea en o h own by hei abuse s.
Domes ic iolence is a p oblem o epidemic p opo ions wi h a - eaching consequences o indi idual ic ims, hei child en and
hei communi ies. Domes ic iolence esul s in dea h, se ious inju y, and ch onic medical and men al heal h issues o ic ims,
hei child en, he pe pe a o s, and o he s (www.opas publishe s.com)
Acco ding o Baze Uni e si y, iolence agains women is a global p oblem o g ea magni ude. No woman in he wo ld is secu e
agains iolence. Th oughou he wo ld, women’s bodies a e ulne able o a ange o iolen assaul s ha include domes ic
iolence, ape wi hin ma iage, ape by acquain ances o da es, ape by s ange s, ape in wa s and communal con lic s, hono
killing, a icking and o ced p os i u ion, child sexual abuse, emale in an icide, emale geni al mu ila ion, and sex-selec i e
abo ion. O he p ac ices ha a e no as ob iously iolen also con ibu e o he a mosphe e o h ea in which all women li e he
en i e y o hei li es: sexual ha assmen , s alking, h ea s o iolence, dep i a ion o bodily libe y, he unde nu i ion o gi ls.
While i is ue ha some women a e mo e ulne able o iolence han o he s — di e ences o na ion, egion, cul u e, class, and
ci cums ance do make a di e ence — he ac is ha no woman, who is a ional is e e u e ly ee o he ea o such iolence,
whe he she has e e expe ienced iolence he sel o no . This ea , i sel a o m o psychological iolence, akes i s oll on
women’s li es.
Violence and he h ea o iolence, a ec women’s abili y o ha e a meaning ul ela ionship… hey also a ec woman’s abili y o
enjoy leisu e, laugh e , and play. ... he e is no hing sadde han o see he emo al o laugh e om he eyes o a gi l o woman,
h ough epea ed sexual o physical abuse, o h ough pe sis en ea .
Akhilesh Kuma Pandey, (2024: 102) in his pape , “Gende -Based Violence and i s Impac on Socie y” explains ha gende -based
iolence (GBV) is a o m o disc imina ion and inequali y ha a ge s indi iduals based on hei gende iden i y o exp ession. I
disp opo iona ely a ec s women and gi ls bu can also a ec men and non-con o ming indi iduals.
Howe e , gende -based iolence (GBV) is a global issue, wi h app oxima ely 1 in 3 women expe iencing physical and/o sexual
iolence by an in ima e pa ne o non-pa ne a some poin in hei li es.
Acco ding o A.K Pandey, GBV iola es human igh s, and pe pe ua es ha m ul powe dynamics, ein o cing socie al no ms ha
ma ginalize ce ain gende s. Add essing GBV equi es s a egies ha add ess social, cul u al, and economic ac o s, p omo e
gende equali y, challenge s e eo ypes, s eng hen legal p o ec ions, p o ide suppo se ices, and engage communi ies in
p e en ion e o s.
Gende -based iolence (GBV) is a widesp ead issue a ec ing indi iduals o all ages, socio-economic backg ounds, and iden i ies
wo ldwide. I s impac is p o ound and mul i ace ed, including physical, and psychological heal h, economic impac , in e pe sonal
ela ionships, educa ional a ainmen , public heal h c isis, gende inequali y, social cohesion, and legal, and human igh s
implica ions. Vic ims o GBV o en su e physical inju ies, leading o anxie y, dep ession, PTSD, and e en suicide.
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Economically, GBV can hinde ic ims' abili y o wo k and ea n a li ing, pe pe ua ing cycles o po e y, and economic
dependency. In e pe sonal ela ionships can be s ained, leading o ac u ed amily dynamics, isola ion, and social aliena ion.
Educa ional a ainmen can be dis up ed, hinde ing academic achie emen , and pe pe ua ing cycles o po e y. GBV con ibu es
o a public heal h c isis, inc easing he bu den on heal hca e sys ems, law en o cemen , and social se ices.
Reducing gende -based iolence in socie y is undamen al. Since Gende -Based Violence (GBV) in inges upon co e human
igh s, including he igh o li e, secu i y, and digni y, i is impe a i e ha his issue be add essed o he sake o bo h indi idual
and socie al well-being. Fo su i o s o GBV, he e a e se ious emo ional, psychological, and physical epe cussions ha migh
include auma, bodily ha m, men al heal h issues, and e en suicide. GBV is a cause as well as an e ec o gende inequali y and
add essing i can aid in he decons uc ion o de imen al gende no ms and he ad ancemen o gende equali y in a a ie y o
con ex s. In o he wo ds, add essing GBV equi es challenging deeply ing ained social no ms and p omo ing gende equali y in all
sphe es o li e. Social cohesion is unde mined by GBV, as ea o iolence es ic s indi iduals' eedom o mo emen , and
pa icipa ion in public li e. I he e o e iola es he undamen al human igh s, including he igh o li e, libe y, and secu i y o
pe son, and is a ba ie o jus ice. S eng hening legal amewo ks and ensu ing accoun abili y o pe pe a o s a e c ucial s eps in
add essing GBV.
By add essing GBV, we can p e en in e gene a ional cycles o iolence, b eak in e gene a ional cycles o iolence, and p omo e
economic empowe men . GBV can hinde indi iduals' abili y o wo k and ea n a li ing, pe pe ua ing cycles o po e y and
dependency.
By p o iding suppo se ices o su i o s, socie ies can p omo e economic empowe men and inancial independence. GBV
es ic s people's eedom o mobili y and in ol emen in public li e, unde mining social cohesi eness and us among
communi ies. To add ess GBV, legal amewo ks mus be s eng hened, o ende s mus be held accoun able, and su i o s mus
ha e access o jus ice. In addi ion o adding o he public heal h issue, add essing GBV also pu s a s ain on social se ices, law
en o cemen , and heal hca e sys ems. Socie ies may sa e heal hca e cos s, enhance public sa e y, and mo e e icien ly use
esou ces by ackling GBV.
In gene al, gende -based iolence (GBV) has ex ensi e and widesp ead e ec s on socie y, including people's physical and men al
heal h, as well as hei social cohesi eness, economic s anding, and in e pe sonal connec ions. Comp ehensi e app oaches ha
add ess unde lying social, cul u al, ins i u ional, and economic issues, ad ance gende equali y, and o e esou ces and suppo o
su i o s a e necessa y o add ess GBV. Socie ies may seek o c ea e communi ies ha a e sa e , mo e egali a ian, and inclusi e
o e e yone by add essing GBV.
In conclusion, GBV's social implica ions highligh he need o comp ehensi e s a egies o add ess he oo causes o iolence,
p omo e gende equali y, and p o ide suppo and esou ces o su i o s. By wo king oge he , socie ies can c ea e sa e , mo e
inclusi e communi ies ee om iolence and disc imina ion.
METHODOLOGY
S udy A ea
The s udy a ea is on domes ic iolence and he esea ch is ca ied ou in he sou h eas e n s a es o Nige ia, pa icula ly Imo and
Anamb a s a es.
P ocedu e
The esea ch design will be desc ip i e, exposi o y and in es iga i e. I in ol es a sys ema ic e iew o li e a u e. This will also
include he use o ques ionnai e, ace- o– ace in e iews (wi h women), epo s, con e ence pape s, jou nal a icles, ex books and
in e ne sou ces.
DATA ANALYSIS/ DISCUSSION
Because o he sensi i i y o he opic, an ini ial and cau ious easibili y s udy is ca ied ou in Anamb a and Imo s a es.
Th ee g oups we e a anged o in e iew and ques ioning. One wi h ma ied women, ano he wi h unma ied and he o he one
wi h widowed, di o ced and single mo he s, in o de o ob ain mo e in-dep h insigh s in o he issue o domes ic iolence and o
elabo a e ques ions o he in e iew guide. The in e iews we e conduc ed in an isola ed place o minimize in e e ence and o
main ain p i acy. The pa icipan s/ esponden s and ic ims we e also asked open-ended ques ions abou hei own expe iences
and hei gene al pe cep ions, a i udes and p ac ices o domes ic iolence. These ques ions came in o m o ques ionnai es. Two
housand (2000) ques ionnai es we e gi en o he esponden s in di e en a eas o Imo and Anamb a s a es. The ques ionnai es
we e designed in a simple way o include s ongly ag eed (SA), ag eed (A), s ongly disag eed (SD), disag eed (D) and neu al
(N) answe s, whe e pa icipan s could add indi idual commen s. 1000 people esponded o he ques ionnai es anonymously.
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Socio demog aphic cha ac e is ics o he Responden s
Va iable
Pe cen age
Age 18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
50%
60%
60%
00%
00%
Gende
Male
Female
00
100%
S a e o O igin
Imo
Anamb a
50%
70%
Employmen S a us
Employed
Unemployed
35%
60%
Ma i al S a us
Single
Cohabi a ion
Ma ied
Sepa a ed
Di o ced
Widowed
75%
50%
60%
5%
5%
10%
Le el o educa ion
P ima y school (FSLC)
Seconda ySchool (WAEC/NECO)
HND/OND
B.Sc
Pos g adua e
60%
60%
50%
37%
30%
F om he demog aphic epo , he s udy consis ed o ic ims, non- ic ims and su i o s o domes ic iolence anging in ages om
18 o 44 yea s old.
Gene ally, mos esponden s/pa icipan s we e o low social economic s a us while he ew we e o highe economic s a us. Also,
mos esponden s/pa icipan s who su e ed domes ic iolence we e p ima y and seconda y school holde s while 50%, 37% and
30% we e HND, Bachelo s deg ee and Pos G adua e Deg ee holde s espec i ely.
F om he abo e, domes ic iolence is no a new phenomenon and women i espec i e o hei le el o educa ion a e ic ims o
domes ic iolence, hence Anike Sanche i (2024:808)explains:
Violence agains women is no a new phenomenon. Women ha e o bea he bu ns o
domes ic, public, physical as well as emo ional and men al iolence agains hem, which
a ec s he s a us in he socie y a he la ge ex en .
I is also e iden ha i is no only ma ied women ha su e domes ic iolence. Mos esponden s explained ha hey s a ed
being abused as daugh e s ( eenage s) in hei espec i e amilies. One o he anonymous esponden s na a ed he expe ience:
Righ om my eenage age, my elde b o he s abused me ( ia logging, bea ing, s ipping
naked) ha when I go ma ied and my husband con inued, I augh i was no mal. I ne e saw
any hing w ong wi h domes ic iolence.
In o he wo ds, single/unma ied women mos ly su e domes ic iolence. This is ollowed by ma ied women (bo h educa ed,
uneduca ed, employed and unemployed) and hen, cohabi an s. Acco ding o This Day daily newspape o 2011:
Abou 50% o women ha e been ba e ed by hei husbands. Shockingly, mo e educa ed
women (65%) a e in his e ible si ua ion as compa ed wi h hei low income coun e pa s
(55%)…
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Addi ionally, mos o he ma ied women who su e ed domes ic iolence we e employed bu could no lea e as a esul o
cul u e/ adi ion, eligion/biblical eaching abou di o ce, sexual sa is ac ion om hei abusi e pa ne s and hei child en. Fo
ins ance, he woman se ablaze by he husband a Abagana in Anamb a S a e Nige ia, e used o walk away because o he
child en.
Ca ego yo Women/Responden s
Reason
Loca ion
Fo ms o Domes ic Violence
P egnan woman/wi e
Delayed in opening
he ga e o he
husband
Ezi-Ogwugwu,
O olo-Nnewi in
Nnewi o Anamb a
S angled o Dea h by he
husband.
Wi e
Caugh he
Husband chea ing.
Nnewi No h Local
Go e nmen A ea o
Anamb a
Bea en by he husband
A mo he o i e (One ime Senio
P e ec )
A loa o b ead
Nnewi No h Local
Go e nmen A ea o
Anamb a
Bea en o dea h by he husband.
A mo he /wi e (A business woman)
Accused o
in ideli y.
Abagana, Anamb a
S a e
Se ablaze by he husband
P egnan woman
He Husband s ole
om he
Nibo, Anamb a S a e
Bea en/Ha assemen om
husband
A mo he o i e (op ome is )
Qua el
Obowo Local
Go e nmen A ea o
Imo S a e
S angled by he husband.
A newly ma ied woman (A
g adua e)
Disag eemen
AWO-IDEMILI, in
O su LGA o Imo
S a e
Bea en o dea h by he husband.
Unma ied woman
(Unde g adua e)
Insecu i y
Owe i, Imo S a e
Hi ing by he boy iend.
Ma ied Woman
Ga e bi h o
emale child en
Naze, Imo S a e
Bea en, ha assemen , e bal
abuse.
A ma ied woman
Checked he
husband’s phone
O lu, Imo S a e
Bea en by he husband.
A ma ied woman
Insecu i y
Nekede, Imo S a e
Bea en, Ha assmen om
husband.
A mo he o ou (sepa a ed)
Insecu i y
Ngo Okpala, Imo
S a e
Se ablaze by he husband.
A single mo he
Money
Fege, Oni sha,
Anamb a
Flogging and o ced sex by he
boy iend.
F om he indica ions, insecu i y, ange , inance, in ideli y, g eed, and he sex o he child en amongs o he s a e he causes o
domes ic iolence. In addi ion, lack specialized skills, educa ion, us a ion, jealousy, poo sel -es eem and exposu e can cause
domes ic abuse.
Domes ic iolence can be physical; psychological, emo ional, sexual, e bal, social and economic. Physical abuse is he mos
amilia o m o domes ic iolence, which begins wi h less iolen assaul . I in ol es he use o o ce, by he abuse agains he
ic im/abused. This includes he use o weapons, pushing, slapping, s abbing, acid ba he, d i ing dange ously, des uc ion o
p ope y, locking he ic im ou o he house, and sleep dep i a ion e c. Mi ian Ujah adds (2021:46)
This o m o iolence, in mos cases is pe pe a ed by a a he , husband, boy iend, s ep a he ,
b o he , uncle, son, o he male ela ion in he home o o he membe s o he amily… This
may include: slapping, g abbing, pinching, bi ing, bea ing, shou ing, choking, s abbing,
s angling. O he s a e, acid bu ning, kicking ou , locking ou , es aining, mu de and o he
ac s designed o inju e, hu , endange , o cause physical pain o an in ima e pe son.
Psychological abuse is basically an inclusi e e m o in imida ing, h ea ening, o ea -causing beha iou . Acco ding o L. E. A.
Walke , (1984:50): psychological abuse is a e y complex o m o abuse, mos o ime physical abuse leads o psychological
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abuse like phobia, guil eeling, insecu i y, poo impulse con ol, nigh ma es, impai ed sleep, humilia ion, shame, isola ion o
ic im, o ced weakness.
Psychological abuse also ins ills ea , like; in imida ion, h ea ening physical ha m o sel , blackmail, ha assmen , mind-games,
s alking.
Emo ional abuse happens when abuse s who wan o make hei pa ne s eel sca ed, c azy, wo hless, o esponsible o he
abuse. In o he wo ds, i in ol es he educ ion and des uc ion o he abused sel -wo h and is b ough abou by con inuous insul ,
humilia ion, o c i icism. Fo example, emo ional abuse comes in o m o , name-calling, insul s, pu -downs, silen ea men ,
manipula ing ic im's eelings and emo ions o induce guil e c.
Sexual abuse is one o he leas discussed, bu mos common o ms o domes ic iolence ha in ol es he iola ion o an
indi idual’s body and bodily in eg i y. Acco ding o D Russel (1982:76): i includes a ious o m o sexual ha ms like o ce ul
sexual in e cou se, mu ila ion o geni alia, pain ul sex (sadism), o ced o al sex, anal mu ila ion, digi al pene a ion and o ced
nakedness. Examples a e ma i al ape, acquain ance ape, o ced sex a e bea ing, a acks on he sexual pa s o he body, o ced
p os i u ion, ondling, sodomy and sex wi h o he s. Sexual jokes ha make he ic im uncom o able, ea ing women as sex
objec s, wi hholding sex as punishmen , laun ing a ai s, ape o o ced sex a e bea ings a e examples o sexual abuse.
Ve bal abuse en ails con inual pu ing down and humilia ion o he abused, p i a ely o publicly, ha ocus on in elligence,
sexuali y, body image and capaci y as a spouse/pa ne . I can also come in o m o sc eaming, shou ing, mocking, name-calling
e c.
Financial/economic abuse. He e, he abuse s a emp o es ablish inancial con ol o e ic ims/abused. Making inancial
decisions, ha ing no access o money, keeping inancial sec e s, moni o ing he ic im's spending, e using ic im wo k amongs
o he s a e examples o inancial/economic abuse.
Social abuse is used o isola e he ic im om o he s in he communi y, including amily membe s. The ewe people he
ic im/abused is connec ed wi h, he mo e con ol he abuse has o e hem. Social abuse comes in o m o : s opping/discou aging
he ic im om seeing amily and iends, moni o ing he ic im's ac i i ies, mo emen s, messages o phone calls, e c.
Howe e , domes ic iolence has no bene i s, hence ha ms bo h gi ls and women in a ious nega i e ways. In o he wo ds,
domes ic iolence has he ollowing nega i e e ec s:
Domes ic iolence gi es bi h o so many physical p oblems, such as inju y o ac u e on neck, nose, pel is, ches , abdomen and
o he body pa s, sc a ches and bleeding. Some imes, ca diac p oblem like hype ension and soma ic ches pain. One o he
esponden s na a ed he expe ience o physical assaul :
As a ic im o domes ic iolence… my husband s a ed wi h slapping me, whene e he e was
an a gumen o issues in he amily. Ini ially, I did no see any hing w ong wi h slapping. I
e en ually degene a ed o bea ing and in lic ing o all so s o inju y and sc a ches all o e my
body.
Also, domes ic iolence leads o psychological auma and common emo ional aumas such as dep ession, anxie y, panic a acks,
subs ance abuse and pos auma ic s ess diso de . In o he wo ds, he psychological e ec s include: high amoun s o s ess, ea
and pos - auma ic s ess diso de (PSTD). Ano he esponden na a ed he expe iences o he sis e be o e she passed:
My sis e , whom I li ed wi h endu ed abuse om he husband o a long ime. This made he
o be emo ionally auma ized, o he ex en ha whene e he husband e u ns om wo k, she
became ne ous and was g adually became uns able, ill she died…
Women who a e inancially s able a e psychologically abused han women who less s able inancially.
Domes ic iolence could esul in dea h, se ious inju y, and ch onic medical and men al heal h issues o women. Hence, i a ec s
bo h he ic im, women and he wide socie y.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
F om he abo e analysis, i is e iden ha domes ic iolence iola es he undamen al igh s and digni y o women and should no
be condoned.
The e should be domes ic iolence counseling p og ams ha add ess disc imina ion agains women and p omo e gende equali y
and y o s op domes ic iolence om happening in he i s place.
Women should be cou ageous enough o speak ou , as i will inspi e o he s o do so.
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Heal h ca e p o essionals like gynecologis s, obs e ician, counselo , psychologis , psychia is and social wo ke should be ac i e
and a ailable o iden i y he p oblems as ea ly as possible.
Women empowe men should be emphasized. Women should be espec ed and should ge equal igh s. Gende sensi iza ion
p og ams should be enhanced and legal li e acy should be p o ided o women.
The e should be public enligh enmen h ough he mass media on he nega i e e ec s o domes ic iolence agains women,
especially wi e ba e y.
Religious leade s oo should igo ously each agains in ima e pa ne iolence/ma i al iolence in hei places o wo ship.
The schools should help in eaching and encou aging he you hs o desis om b u ish ea men o wi es/pa ne s a ound hem.
Punishmen should be gi en o g ie ously o ending husbands, publicly, so ha i can se e as de e ence o o he s.
Con lic o In e es s
The au ho s decla e no con lic s o in e es ega ding he publica ion o his pape .
Acknowledgemen s
We wish o acknowledge Te und o sponso ing his Ins i u ional Based Resea ch (IBR).
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