Patriarchy and gender-inequitable attitudes as drivers of intimate partner violence against women in the central region of Ghana.
Outcomes: Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways The study shows that IPV in this context is not just individual behavior but part of a broader social system supported by patriarchal norms, rigid gender hierarchies, and notions of male authority. Successful prevention efforts must directly target these social norms, emphasizing community-wide change, the transformation of masculine ideals, and the promotion of gender equity.
Objectives This study aimed to explore how men who perpetrate intimate partner violence (IPV) in Ghana rationalize their actions, focusing on their views of gender norms, masculinity, and attitudes, in order to inform culturally appropriate interventions to prevent IPV.
Methods The researchers conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 17 men from the Central Region of Ghana who self-reported IPV perpetration in a prior household survey. Thematic analysis was used to examine how these men’s narratives revealed the role of patriarchal social norms, gender attitudes, and cultural and religious justifications in shaping IPV behaviors.
Intervention Details While this study was not an evaluation of an intervention, it was part of the baseline research for the Rural Response System (RRS), a community-based program that trains local action teams to raise awareness on violence against women and support victims in accessing justice.
Results The study found that men justified violence by drawing on social and cultural norms that position them as household decision-makers, enforcers of discipline, and owners of their female partners. These men perceived rigid gender roles, endorsed men’s sexual entitlement, and often viewed wife beating as a legitimate form of punishment. The narratives highlighted how men’s sense of masculinity was tied to maintaining control and authority over women, using violence as a tool to assert dominance.
Conclusions To prevent IPV, interventions must address the deeply embedded patriarchal norms and traditional masculinities that legitimize male dominance and violence. Effective programs should engage traditional and religious leaders and mobilize whole communities to challenge the social legitimacy of IPV and promote alternative, nonviolent models of masculinity.
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