Domestic Violence and Gender Stereotypes: Perceptions, Justifications, and Reactions

Emilia Barili (), Veronica Grembi and Anna Rosso ()
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Emilia Barili: University of Genoa
Anna Rosso: University of Milan, Centro Studi Luca d’Agliano and CEP

No 474, Development Working Papers from Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, University of Milano

Abstract: Using a new measure of the strength of gender stereotypes defined at the individual level and based on responses to a survey conducted with more than 4,500 Italian women in July 2020, we show that women with stronger stereotypes are more likely to state that they know a victim of violence but are not more likely to state that violence (physical or psychological) is widespread in their area of residence. They are also more likely to rank behaviours meant to control a victim’s interpersonal contacts and access to financial resources as more serious than physically and sexually violent behaviours and to justify violent acts using distressing, event-specific circumstances (e.g., a period of economic distress) rather than the deep-seated psychological issues of the attackers. Finally, when personal stereotyping is stronger, respondents are more likely to suggest that a hypothetical victim of violence either not react to or deal directly with the partner rather than look for formal help. Using different controls for the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the respondents’ personal and economic lives does not affect our main findings.

Keywords: Gender Stereotypes; Domestic Violence Perceptions; Justifications for Violent Behaviour; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 J12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-06-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur and nep-gen
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Working Paper: Domestic Violence and Gender Stereotypes: Perceptions, Justifications, and Reactions (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:csl:devewp:474

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