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Demographic and Health Survey 2009-10 - Timor-Leste Ministry of ...

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Of all the specified reasons, men are most likely to agree that a husb<strong>and</strong> has the right to get<br />

angry <strong>and</strong> reprim<strong>and</strong> his wife if she refuses to have sex with him (33 percent) <strong>and</strong> least likely to agree<br />

with having forced sex with his wife (16 percent). As men’s level <strong>of</strong> education increases, they are less<br />

likely to agree that a husb<strong>and</strong> has the right to exhibit any <strong>of</strong> the specified behaviors. For example,<br />

<strong>10</strong> percent <strong>of</strong> men with no education condone negative behaviors, compared with 2 percent <strong>of</strong> men<br />

with more than secondary education. A similar relationship is seen with respect to wealth quintile,<br />

with the exception <strong>of</strong> men in the lowest wealth quintile. As household wealth rises from the second<br />

quintile to the highest quintile, the percentage <strong>of</strong> men who support all the specified reasons decreases<br />

from 9 percent to 3 percent, respectively. Men therefore exhibit the expected pattern; that is, urban,<br />

educated, <strong>and</strong> wealthy men are more tolerant <strong>of</strong> women’s sexual rights.<br />

Table 15.8 provides a brief overview on how the three basic empowerment indicators—<br />

number <strong>of</strong> decisions in which women participate, number <strong>of</strong> reasons for which wife beating is<br />

justified, <strong>and</strong> number <strong>of</strong> reasons for refusing to have sexual intercourse with husb<strong>and</strong>—relate to each<br />

other.<br />

The first index shows the number <strong>of</strong> decisions in which women participate alone or jointly<br />

with their husb<strong>and</strong>. This index ranges in value from 0 to 4 <strong>and</strong> is positively related to women’s<br />

empowerment. It reflects the degree <strong>of</strong> decisionmaking control that women are able to exercise in<br />

areas that affect their lives <strong>and</strong> environments.<br />

The second index is the number <strong>of</strong> reasons for which the respondent thinks that a husb<strong>and</strong> is<br />

justified in beating his wife. This index ranges in value from 0 to 5. A lower score on this indicator is<br />

interpreted as reflecting a greater sense <strong>of</strong> entitlement <strong>and</strong> self-esteem, <strong>and</strong> higher status for women.<br />

The final index is the number <strong>of</strong> circumstances in which the respondent feels that a woman is<br />

justified in refusing sexual intercourse with her husb<strong>and</strong> or partner. This index ranges in value from 0<br />

to 3 <strong>and</strong> is positively related to women’s sense <strong>of</strong> self-esteem <strong>and</strong> empowerment. It reflects<br />

perceptions <strong>of</strong> sexual roles <strong>and</strong> women’s rights over their bodies.<br />

220 | Women’s Empowerment <strong>and</strong> <strong>Demographic</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Outcomes

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