Panel No. 10

Panel Title: Violence against Women in South Asia

Convenor: Adeel Khan, School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, Australia
Co-convenor: Rafat Hussain, School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, Australia

    Thursday 8 July, 8–12

Panel Abstract: Violence against women is a criminal offence not only in Western countries but also in almost every state in the world. Despite the illegality of the act, however, it is prevalent in almost every society irrespective of its economic development and societal advancement. In the Western countries, social, political and legal changes during the last century have changed the perception of violence against women. It does occur but is not approved of at individual and societal level. In less developed countries, despite the governmental and legal disapproval of the act, however, it is legitimised by the perception of individual as well as large sections of society.
South Asia is one such region where violence against women is illegal but in reality many influential sections of government and society provide protection to the perpetrators of these ghastly acts. This Panel explores the role of culture, religion, class and the legal systems in South Asian states that wittingly or unwittingly contribute to violence against women.

         Read the convenor’s panel report after the conference

Papers accepted for presentation in the panel:

Paper Giver 1: Adeel Khan, University of New England, Armidale, Australia

Paper 1 Title: Violence against Women in Pakistan: Culture, Masculinity and the State

Paper Abstract: During the last two decades the world has seen some of the most grisly images of victims of male violence against women in Pakistan. This paper proposes to explore the male perception of violence against women, and the role of culture and the state.
First, the paper illustrates the socio-cultural determinants of violence against women, and then highlights the systemic pressures on men that increase the propensity towards violent behaviour in conformity with the perceived and/or real societal images of masculinity. The paper also details how the state and its legal system have contributed to the low status of Pakistani women and explains how these factors have contributed to the male perception of violence against women. This section gives examples of their perception that have been collected through in-depth interviews with Pakistani men from various ethnic, religious and social backgrounds.

Paper Giver 2: Rafat Hussain, University of New England, Armidale, Australia

Paper 2 Title: Discrimination and violence against women

Paper Abstract: Gender discrimination in Pakistan is situated within deeply ingrained system of patriarchy which limits and confines women to subordinate roles and status. According to a recent report by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, one in three women have been victims of domestic violence. The aim of this paper is two-fold: one to explore women’s perceptions and experiences of violence; two, to situate these issues within the larger context of human rights, women’s empowerment and gender and development. The information on women’s perception of discrimination and violence is based on a qualitative study undertaken across different ethnic and religious groups and included data from key informant interviews and focus group discussions as well as in-depth interviews with women who had experienced abusive relationships. Despite fear of reprisals by male members of their family, many women were willing to talk about their perceptions and experiences of violence. Many participants had experienced domestic violence often in the form of physical violence perpetrated often by husbands but in some cases also by other male members of the family. Emotional and psychological abuse included allegations of ‘immorality’, threats of desertion and/or separation from children. Although any disclosure on sexual violence was considered ‘taboo’, some informants conceded that it was not uncommon and was used by some men as a way of controlling women. There were marked inter-generational differences in acceptance of violence with many older women rationalising male violence while younger women wanting more respect, better status and equal rights. Nonetheless most women, young and old, felt that women had little choice but to put up with male violence, as there was limited social or family support that they could draw upon to leave an abusive relationship.
The second part of the paper reviews the gap between the rhetoric and reality of women’s lives and discusses the micro and macro level issues that perpetuate various forms of discrimination and the reasons why violence against women continues to be a serious social and health issue.

Panel report:

There were two presenters on “violence against women” panel, Dr Adeel Khan and Dr Rafat Hussain. Adeel’s paper dealt with male perception of violence against women and the role of culture and the state in Pakistan. He argued that in societies like India and Pakistan many men who may not be violent but indulge in violence against women because they are under pressure from society and culture to prove their masculinity. Adeel said that South Asian culture was basically male-dominated and deeply biased against women. Adeel said that although on societal level India and Pakistan have the same perception about women, when one looks at the two states, their roles have been very different: because Indian state is being run by democratically elected governments, the legal system, at least in letter, is not biased against women; but Pakistani state, which has all along been ruled by civil and military autocrats and dictators, has gradually become more and more biased against women. He gave the example of Hudood Ordinances imposed by a fundamentalist military dictator in the late 1970s. Adeel concluded that nothing has changed with the so-called liberal military dictator coming into power in 1999.
Dr Rafat Hussain’s paper focused on her research study on women’s perception and experiences of violence against women in Pakistan. The study employed a range of research methods and results showed that domestic violence was perceived to be an intractable social problem. The types of violence included both physical (including sexual) and psychological violence. Whilst the context in which violence took place varied, violence was often perceived as a form of patriarchal oppression operating both at the societal and family level. Although there were marked inter-generational differences in acceptance of violence, nonetheless most women, young and old, felt that women had little choice but to put up with male violence, as there was limited social, family or legal support that they could draw upon to leave an abusive relationship. The link between violence and low status of women in Pakistan was also discussed.
Each paper was followed by a barrage of questions