Exposure to collective gender-based violence causes intimate partner violence

Wolfgang Stojetz () and Tilman Brück
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Wolfgang Stojetz: ISDC – International Security and Development Center, Berlin, Germany; and Humboldt University Berlin, Germany
Tilman Brück: ISDC – International Security and Development Center, Berlin, Germany; Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Großbeeren, Germany; and Humboldt University Berlin, Germany

No 389, HiCN Working Papers from Households in Conflict Network

Abstract: Globally, one in three women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) over their lifetimes. Yet, the factors that cause men to commit IPV remain poorly understood. We propose and test a causal long-term link from past exposure to gender-based collective violence to violent behavior against an intimate partner. Combining novel survey data from Angolan war veteran families and a natural experiment, we find that exposure to sexual violence by armed groups against women makes male veterans about 30 percentage points more likely to commit physical – but not sexual – violence against a female intimate partner 18 years later (on average). Our results are not consistent with standard explanations of IPV based on group norms and intra-household bargaining. Instead, we attribute the effect to a lasting reduction in self-control skills. These findings challenge standard approaches to preventing IPV and emphasize the potential of working with men, especially after episodes of collective violence.

Keywords: war; gender-based violence; intimate partner violence; wartime sexual violence; ex-combatants; demobilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 J12 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 47 pages
Date: 2023-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gen and nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hic:wpaper:389

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