Women's Autonomy and Domestic Violence in India

Nan Johnson, Michigan State University

Over the past decade, there has been a growing recognition that domestic violence is a significant public health concern in developing countries. In spite of varying definitions and diverse methodologies, current research provides important insights into the determinants and consequences of domestic violence. These studies suggest that domestic violence is related to a host of interrelated factors at the individual, family and social level. Drawing from interesting findings from earlier research in developing countries, we hypothesize that in India, the relation between domestic violence and women's autonomy is affected by contextual factors including region of residence, gender norms and expectations at a broader community level. Using multivariate logistic regression techniques, we assess how autonomy enjoyed by women, coresidence in an extended marital family, region of residence, and educational attainment are associated to the risk of domestic violence.