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

16.17 SOCIAL NORMS AND VALUES
The fact that domestic violence is often perceived as a private matter that should not be
discussed in public provides a rationale for further exploration of the extent of social norms and
values that exists in a society. Studies have shown that the cultural acceptance of gender roles and
behavior has led to the reinforcement of violence against women. The 2009-10 TLDHS explored
women’s attitudes regarding two specific behaviors used as a proxy for justifying patriarchal behavior
that puts men in a higher social position than women. The first question asked if women believed that
‘men cannot control their sexual behavior.’ If women agree that men have no control over their sexual
behavior, then they may believe that men’s unwanted sexual advances towards women are somehow
justified and cannot be construed as violence. The second question asked women if they thought that
‘marital rape is allowable,’ meaning whether women believe that within marriage they cannot refuse
sexual advances from their husband and therefore marital rape does not constitute sexual violence.
It is interesting that nearly half of the women (47 percent) believed that men cannot control
their sexual behavior (Table 16.15). Women in the older age cohort are more likely to believe this,
with more than half of the women above age 25 years agreeing with the statement. The data shows
that women who work for cash, those residing in urban areas, those with higher education and those
belonging to wealthier households are least likely to support this belief. Still, the belief is strongly
ingrained in the culture. Eighty-three percent of women in Ermera hold this belief compared with 18
percent of women in Bobonaro.
About 29 percent of women in the 2009-10 TLDHS believed that marital rape is allowable,
giving the husband authority over a woman’s sexuality. Women in the older cohort are more likely to
believe this statement. Similarly, women who work but not for cash, who are currently married, who
reside in rural areas, and who are not educated are more likely to believe that marital rape is
allowable. Women in Manatuto (55 percent) and Ermera (46 percent) are more likely to believe that
marital rape is allowable, while those living in Covalima (12 percent) are least likely to believe this.
These findings demonstrate a need to raise awareness among women and men about
individual rights in relation to sexuality and how they can work to reduce sexual violence. The
responsibility for sexual assault lies with the perpetrators, who choose to engage in inappropriate
behavior. Decreases over time in the proportion of women who believe that ‘men sometimes cannot
control their sexual behavior’ or ‘marital rape is allowable’ may indicate an improvement in the level
of awareness and empowerment. The data shown here can be a useful guide for program managers to
initiate awareness-raising activities and human rights education interventions.
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