Hurt or help? understanding intimate partner violence in the context of social norms as practised in rural areas

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses a serious threat to the welfare of women. IPV against women has aroused intense interest amongst policymakers, practitioners and researchers. Despite this development, IPV against women remains rife but there is still a dearth of research on the linkages between IPV and social norms. This study is a critical review of the literature on IPV and social norms as well as its impact on social work practice and policy. The authors argue that social norms can either promote or prevent IPV intervention and therefore propose an integrated approach to addressing IPV against women.

Keywords

• Intimate partner violence
• social norms
• rural areas
• women;victims
• social work