Why domestic violence is more common in poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa

Let's talk about a tough issue: domestic violence.

It's a problem that affects people all around the world, but in Sub-Saharan Africa - including Tanzania - it's often more common in communities struggling with extreme poverty.

Domestic violence isn't just about physical abuse - although we often see this too. It can be emotional, economic, or psychological. And it's not limited to one group of people – it can happen to anyone, no matter their age, gender, or how much money they have. But in poor communities, domestic violence tends to rear its ugly head more often.

Why is that?

Money Stress

One big reason is the stress that comes with not having enough money. Poverty means not having a stable job, not being able to make ends meet, and not knowing where your next meal will come from. All this financial uncertainty can lead to frustration and, unfortunately, violence can sometimes become an outlet for that frustration.

Gender Inequality

Sub-Saharan Africa, like many places, deals with gender inequality. Traditionally, men are expected to be the primary providers, while women are supposed to take care of the family. In poor communities, these roles can become even more rigid. Men who can't fulfill their provider role may feel like they're losing their status, and this can lead to violence as a way for them to regain control.

Lack of Education

Education is power, but in many poor communities, access to quality education is limited. This lack of education can mean people don't know their rights, and harmful stereotypes and ideas about violence can go unchallenged. Education can be a game-changer in raising awareness about domestic violence and promoting gender equality.

Cultural Beliefs

Cultural norms and the way society looks at domestic violence can also be a problem. Some communities might see it as a private matter or even as a form of discipline. Victims often face a lot of shame and stigma when they try to speak out or get help, which makes it even harder to break free from abuse.

Legal Challenges

Having laws against domestic violence is one thing, but enforcing them is another. In many poor communities, access to legal help is scarce. Victims often struggle to escape abusive relationships or get justice. We need better legal protections and law enforcement that takes domestic violence seriously.

What Can We Do?

Addressing the link between poverty and domestic violence is a big task, but there are steps we can take:

Economic Support:

Programs that help lift people out of poverty, like our saving clubs and skill training programs, can make a huge difference.

Gender Equality:

We need to change how we think about gender roles and empower both women and men. Everyone should have equal opportunities and responsibilities. Changing societal norms takes time but we have to start now.

Education and Awareness:

Better access to education and awareness campaigns can help people understand their rights and the damage that domestic violence can cause.

Legal Changes:

We need stronger laws against domestic violence and better enforcement. Victims should have access to legal support and protection. In Tanzania, we have previously successfully supported the need to have a ‘gender desk’ at the local police station specifically handling domestic violence cases against women and children.

Support Services:

Creating safe spaces, shelters, counseling, and legal aid for victims is crucial. They need a way out and help to rebuild their lives. Currently, our hospital often plays that role.

The connection between poverty and domestic violence in Sub-Saharan Africa is a serious issue. To tackle it, we need a comprehensive approach that includes helping people out of poverty, promoting gender equality, educating everyone, improving the law, and providing support for victims. By addressing the root causes of domestic violence and offering help to those who need it, we can work toward safer and fairer communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

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What Abduli Does

Abduli, Cedar Tanzania’s Field Officer, shares his important role in the village of Kamanga. He is part of the SASA! team that works to address the sensitive issues of gender based violence in communities and he leads our TackleAfrica project, which strives to educate young people about the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and sexual health.

SASA! What it means to be aware

The Awareness Phase, the second of four phases in the SASA! methodology, was implemented from April 2017 until April 2019.

Before we start the third phase " Support" we would like to share with you some of the amazing results we have had during the Awareness phase.

Impact on the Community

For the majority of the community we have seen a change in knowledge and attitudes with regards to balance of power and Violence Against Women. More people break the silence and speak up about these important and pressing issues. This is due to the effort the Community Activists have been putting into their facilitations by encouraging the community to think critically about their own actions. The Community Activists are well respected members of the community and are directing victims of violence to the suited support provider. The establishment of a functioning referral system is to date the greatest challenge we face: partly, because the needed support providers are simply non-existent, partly because the local government authorities with which we always aim to cooperate are somewhat unreliable. We believe the Community Activists' role is to be a facilitator and to spark critical thinking within the community by asking questions without judging and telling what is ‘right’ and what is ‘wrong’.

Knowledge

The community knows the different types of Violence Against Women and the negative consequences that come with it. They can link Violence Against Women to HIV/AIDS and understand that Violence Against Women is a cause as well as a consequence of HIV.

Attitudes
Women and men in the community agree that Violence Against Women is never acceptable and that balanced power between men and women is healthy, safe and beneficial for both. The community agrees that everyone has power and that women are not to be blamed for the violence that is directed towards them. Moreover, it is understood that Violence Against Women is an issue affecting the whole community and not merely a private matter.

It is such a great success to see that the community is much more outspoken when it comes to Violence Against Women than it was before the implementation of SASA!. This shows that the community understands the urgent need to act and speak out about the abuse of power which leads to Violence Against Women and girls.

The increase of almost 30%  from the baseline to Awareness Assessment for this questions shows that Violence Against Women is increasingly seen as an issue that affects the whole community and is not just a private matter. This decreases the stigma surrounding Violence Against Women and reduces the shame women often feel when reporting abuses.

The SASA! project is slowly but surely changing attitudes in Kamanga about how violence against women and girls is an unacceptable act.