Gender roles and domestic violence : narrative analysis of social construction of gender in Uganda

Abstract

Gender Roles and Domestic Violence: Narrative Analysis of Social Construction of Gender in Uganda. Veera Joro. Master’s Thesis in Political Science/ Development and International Cooperation. Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy. University of Jyväskylä. Winter 2016. Supervisors: Tiina Kontinen and Marja Keränen. Pg 1-94. Appendix 1 pg 95-111.

The objective of this thesis was to investigate the gender roles are understood within the Ugandan context and how they contribute towards the severe issue of domestic violence within the country. This thesis has taken a social constructivist approach towards understanding this issue by exploring how socially constructed gender roles are related to cases of domestic violence. Narratives of domestic violence were collected through narrative interviews in Uganda. These narratives were then analysed using a combination of plot analysis and thematic analysis. Gender roles were identified as influencing the behaviour of men and women. Whilst the gender roles given to men and women varied depending on the narrative, in general men were given roles such as Income Provider, Family Authority and Rightful Property Owner. These roles were aspects which men naturally possessed due to their gender. Challenging or undermining of these roles created tension and conflict between men and women which justified the use of domestic violence.

In comparison, gender roles which women possessed within the narratives were those of ‘Nurturer,’ ‘Resilient,’ ‘Dependant’ and ‘Obedient Wife.’ It could be suggested that these gender roles held by women limits their behaviour and their actions and also influences men to perceive them in an objective way detached from rights and entitlements. When women question the actions of their husbands or refuse to act in a certain manner can be considered as undermining men’s authority whilst also directly challenging women’s expected role. Thus, these gender roles can also encourage domestic violence as men may feel the need to reassert their authority and punish their wives for their misconduct.

The results of this thesis highlight the central role social constructions of gender have on the sources of conflict in domestic violence. Altering the understandings behind these roles may have a beneficial impact on the relations between men and women. The results within this thesis further suggest that development work attempting to eliminate the practice of gender inequality should explore the socially constructed aspects of gender which exist.