Couples’ Economic Equilibrium, Gender Norms and Intimate Partner Violence in Kirumba, Tanzania
Outcomes: Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways This study reveals how entrenched gender norms—particularly around male breadwinning and female domesticity—exacerbate intimate partner violence (IPV) when economic shifts disrupt traditional roles. In Kirumba, Tanzania, men’s inability to fulfill the breadwinner norm due to declining economic opportunities and women’s entry into paid labor triggered feelings of emasculation and social ridicule. These perceived threats to masculinity were reinforced by community norms and sanctions, prompting some men to resort to IPV as a means of reasserting control and restoring social status. The study underscores how social norms can lag behind economic and behavioral shifts, resulting in increased gender-based violence during periods of socio-economic transition.
Objectives The study aimed to explore how changing economic conditions—specifically men’s reduced earning capacity and women’s increased participation in paid labor—interact with prevailing gender norms to influence the perpetration of IPV in Kirumba, Mwanza City, Tanzania.
Methods A qualitative research design was employed, using in-depth interviews (n=20) and focus group discussions (n=8) with 116 participants (58 men and 58 women) aged 15–50. Participants were selected to reflect varied experiences across age and gender. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and vignettes, and analyzed using thematic analysis to understand the dynamics between gender norms, economic shifts, and IPV.
Results Participants uniformly described strong social expectations that men should be the household breadwinners, with women expected to remain in the domestic sphere. As economic hardships pushed women into paid work, men experienced social scorn for failing to provide and feared public emasculation. Community members often mocked men whose wives were financially independent, associating women’s work with sexual impropriety. These dynamics led to tensions in households, with many participants linking men’s frustration and fear of shame to increased IPV. Women’s income generation was seen as threatening male authority, and violence was often rationalized as a response to perceived infidelity or social disrespect.
Conclusions Economic empowerment of women in patriarchal contexts can unintentionally trigger IPV when prevailing gender norms remain rigid. The study highlights the importance of designing IPV prevention strategies that not only support women’s economic roles but also address deeply held gender norms and community sanctions. Programs should aim to reframe male identity away from sole breadwinning and promote shared household responsibilities, while challenging stigma around women’s autonomy.
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