"Gender Norms and Violence: Attitudes Towards Rape and Intimate Partner" by Tricia Ebubechukwu
 

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Publication Date

2025

Document Type

Poster

Degree Type

Graduate

Department

Sociology/Anthropology

Mentor

Dr. Winfred Avogo

Mentor Department

Sociology/Anthropology

Abstract

Societal norms are deeply rooted in attitudes towards Gender Based Violence. Different societies have cultures distinct to them that influence Nigerian individuals. Socio-cultural norms play a critical role in shaping attitudes towards gender-based violence. In Nigeria, diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious traditions influence individual and collective perceptions of GBV, including rape and intimate partner violence (IPV). This study examines the interactive effects of gender norms on attitudes towards IPV across various ethnic groups in Nigeria. It also explores the influence of cultural and religious institutions in shaping legal frameworks and societal responses, determining whether GBV is tolerated or condemned.

This study uses Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice, especially because of its two important concepts that are deemed relevant to this study, which are meaning and cultural capital. Habitus is the way by which one internalizes and perpetuates a society’s norms and values as they relate to the roles of gender in such a way that people come to normal or abnormal attitudes towards Gender Based Violence. On the same note, it will also open up the discussion on the different powers within such cultures and societies response to Gender Based Violence.

Much of the existing research on the determinants and mechanisms of gender-based violence (GBV) has been conducted outside Africa, limiting the development of context-specific policy interventions. This study is essential for understanding how cultural and religious beliefs shape attitudes towards GBV in Nigeria. It examines the roles of traditions and legal systems in either reinforcing or challenging GBV, highlighting the profound influence of societal norms on perceptions of violence. Additionally, this study explores how these harmful gender norms are passed down and normalised in society; it also considers Nigeria’s ethnic and cultural backgrounds, offering an intersectional view of GBV.

The main focus of this study is on ethnic differences in gender-based violence in Nigeria- specifically differences in gender norms, cultural and religious practices, family structure, socio- economic status and women empowerment between the ethnic groups in Nigeria.

The study uses secondary data drawn from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in Nigeria in 2018. We use descriptive statistics and multivariate techniques to examine the social determinants of gender-based violence among the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. This study seeks to uncover the cultural, social and institutional factors influencing attitudes toward Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria. The findings aim to provide an understanding of the interplay between gender norms and legal frameworks in shaping perceptions of GBV.

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