Relative Resources and Community Norms: Contextualizing Intimate Partner Violence in West Africa

Winfred A. Avogo, Illinois State University

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical issue in sub-Saharan Africa, where 37% of women experience it in their lifetime. While research on IPV has grown, the impact of women’s empowerment—through education, employment, and relative autonomy—on IPV remains underexplored in West Africa. This study examines how disparities in resources between women and their male partners affect the likelihood of IPV, while also considering community-level norms and socio-economic conditions. Using theories of relative resources and gendered power dynamics and data drawn from the Demographic and Health Surveys on several countries in West Africa, this research highlights the complex role of empowerment in IPV risk. While education and employment can empower women, resource imbalances, particularly in communities with entrenched patriarchal norms, may increase the risk of violence. The findings emphasize the importance of both individual and community factors in understanding IPV. By situating IPV within the broader socio-economic and cultural context, this study provides new insights into the pathways between women's empowerment and IPV in West Africa. The results offer policy recommendations for addressing gender-based violence in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5, which aims to eliminate violence against women by 2030.

Keywords: Neighbourhood/contextual effect analysis, Gender Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Health and Morbidity

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