Females are More Accepting of Intimate Partner Violence than Males, Internationally

Abstract

What factors shift the social norms of acceptance of intimate partner violence within couples? I address this broad question using global Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data on attitudes toward intimate partner violence. Much of the existing research in this field only examines female acceptance without analyzing the dynamics within a couple. I determine females are more accepting of intimate partner violence than males, regardless of cultural context and time, in an exploration of new stylized facts. I find existing theory and conclusions about female acceptance of violence can be expanded on when considering total male acceptance levels within a couple. Policies and programs targeting the reduction of IPV can benefit from including a more complete story in their strategies