Hindu-Muslim differences in intimate partner violence against women in India

Kanika Sharma
Aashish Gupta, Harvard University

The relationship between religion and gender is contentious. This paper examines differences in spousal violence against Hindu and Muslim women in India. Using data from India’s National Family Health Surveys (NFHS), we show that the proportion of women who ever experienced sexual or emotional violence from their husbands is similar in both religious communities. However, 29% of Hindu women experienced physical violence from their husbands, compared to 24% of Muslim women. The lower prevalence of physical spousal violence against Muslim women is not explained by socioeconomic status or regional differences. Instead, we find that compared to Hindu women, Muslim women report that their husbands are less likely to drink alcohol, and lower alcohol consumption among Muslim men accounts for the lower prevalence of physical spousal violence against Muslim women. These findings underscore the complicated connections between the cultural norms that religion influences – such as taboos on alcohol consumption in Islam – and gender relations

Keywords: Gender Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

See paper.