Gender Equality Contestation And Domestic Violence. A Case Of Selected Households In Mbabala Ward, Dodoma District

ABSTRACT

Domestic violence among married couples has been studied and several factors have been identified which contribute to domestic violence within households. However, domestic violence has never been studied as a function of gender equality contestation. This study was conducted at Mbabala ward in Dodoma district with the main objective of examining how domestic violence is a function of contestation of the meaning of gender equality between members of the household. A total of 70 out of 1,935 households were randomly selected from household register book. From 70 randomly selected household, 238 respondents were involved in responding to the questionnaire; there were 34 respondents for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. While quantitative data was analyzed by descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), qualitative data was processed by use of content analysis. Nature of domestic violence at the study area involved actors such as men, women, girl and boy children. About 84% of the respondents have experienced domestic violence in their households in terms of battering, abusive words, fighting and sexual violence. The causes were found to be envy, alcohol, and contestation of various gender roles at their households. Understanding of gender equality does not differ for all actors, except the perceptions and attitudes. Strategies used by actors to get to gender equality include negotiations and claims. The study recommends awareness on issues of dialogue and self-expression and proposes a study on how gender equality can result into improvement of household welfare.