Help-Seeking Pathways and Barriers for ... - EngenderHealth

Figure 1 illustrates the wide range of acts identified by PFG participants as examples of
gender-based violence, categorized according to community perceptions of their
acceptability. In the outer sphere are those acts that, while considered forms of GBV, were
described by PFG participants as “normal,” “common,” and/or “acceptable” within their
social context. For many, behaviors such as insulting or yelling at a woman, restricting her
freedom, having an extramarital affair, or imposing different forms of economic violence
against women do not constitute violations of a woman’s rights. The middle sphere includes
forms of GBV that were described by PFG participants as common but less acceptable within
their communities. The refusal to pay child support or acknowledge a child, in particular, are
acts that are likely to invoke a response from local leaders. The inner sphere of the diagram
illustrates those forms of GBV that were consistently described as unacceptable when they
were included in the free-listing exercises. The forms of violence underlined in red in the
diagram were among those prioritized a priori for exploration through this study.
Figure 1: Community Definitions of Gender-based Violence
2. Acts of GBV Perceived to be Common or Acceptable
Among the acts of violence that were widely considered to be common, acceptable, and/or
normal, there was a range of emotional, economic, physical, and sexual violence.
Participants’ views on the social acceptance of four frequently mentioned forms of violence—
extramarital affairs, being beaten by a partner, economic violence, and public humiliation—
are discussed in detail in this sub-section.
Extramarital affairs
Extramarital affairs were identified by PFG participants as a common but widely accepted
behavior, and overwhelmingly this was framed as men having mistresses or multiple
partners. The classification of this act ranged from being seen as showing disrespect
towards a woman to a form of GBV.
Having mistresses, that is direct disrespect.
Female PFG participant (18-24 years old), Dar es Salaam
Help-Seeking Pathways and Barriers for Survivors of GBV in Tanzania March 2013
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