Domestic Violence Against Rural Women in Sri Lanka: A Mixed-Methods Approach

The family is the fundamental unit of society, playing a critical role in shaping social cohesion and individual roles within the household. In contemporary technological societies, family dynamics can become complex, leading to negative interactions and emotional disruptions among its members. Domestic violence against women is a prevalent issue in Sri Lankan society, often stemming from inherent role differentiations within husband-wife relationships. This research aims to address the specific objectives of identifying the nature of violence against rural women in the Medavachchiya police area, Sri Lanka, studying the impact of status and role on violence while recommending measures for prevention. Primary methods, including questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions, were used to collect data from 282 husband-wife participants. A mixed-methods approach involving quantitative and qualitative data analysis was utilized.
Results revealed that 62.5% of the sample had experienced violence from an intimate partner. The study focused on identifying verbal, physical, and psychological forms of violence while excluding sexual violence from its scope. It was found that instances of abuse often stem from conflicts related to economic problems, alcohol use by spouses, children's issues as well as weaknesses in family relationships and emotional connections among members. Consequently, a trend towards divorces and separations between spouses was noted. Based on these findings, the study recommends raising social awareness concerning women's rights and legal protections, focusing on increased educational opportunities for women, economic empowerment through self-employment initiatives, and strengthening government policies to combat acts of violence against women.