INTRA-FAMILIAL VIOLENCE PRACTICES AGAINST CHILDREN IN BURKINA FASO: THE INTERSECTION OF GENDER INEQUALITIES AND VIOLENT DISCIPLINE NORMS

Alis BAMBARA, IDESO-University of Geneva

Social norms are often identified as factors contributing to violence against children., particularly within families, in hierarchical societies characterized by gender and generational inequalities. In these contexts, the rearing of both girls and boys is shaped by patriarchal norms that assign women and girls to subordinate roles. Feminist theories show how individuals can be affected by multiple dimensions of their identity or social position, which in turn shapes their experiences and vulnerabilities. Understanding the individual and local dynamics that underpin patterns of violence within families is crucial for developing more effective child protection policies. This study uses intersectional and decolonial frameworks, with Burkina Faso as a case study, to investigate how gender-related social expectations interact with norms that support violent discipline, thereby heightening children’s vulnerabilities—particularly those of girls—to intra-familial violence. Using quantitative data on children under 12 years of age from Burkina Faso, the study reveals that contexts of gender inequality amplify the effects of social norms that support violent discipline and increase severe physical and emotional violence against children, while providing some degree of protection against deprivation. However, the research finds that girls are not disproportionately affected by these forms of violence compared to boys.

Keywords: Data and Methods, Gender Dynamics, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Children, Adolescents, and Youth

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