WUNRN
http://www.icrw.org/publications/masculinity-intimate-partner-violence-and-son-preference-india
Direct Link to Full 130-Page 2014 Report:
http://www.icrw.org/sites/default/files/publications/Masculinity%20Book_Inside_final_6th%20Nov.pdf
Masculinity,
Intimate Partner Violence and Son Preference in India
Priya Nanda, Abhishek Gautam, RaviVerma, Aarushi Khanna, Nizamuddin Khan,
Dhanashri Brahme, Shobhana Boyle & Sanjay Kumar - 2014
In-depth research on gender, power and masculinity and
various programmatic efforts to engage men have made it abundantly clear
that men and boys must be an integral part of efforts to promote
gender equality. This is especially relevant in India, where caste, class
and linguistic ethnicity have tremendous influence on how men construct their
sense of masculinity and define what it means to be a “real man” or what is
expected of them. Recent research suggests that men’s attitudes and more
broadly, masculinity, perpetuate son preference and to some extent,
intimate partner violence in India.
With this in mind, ICRW conducted research,
surveying a total of 9,205 men and 3,158 women, aged 18-49 in the
following seven states across India: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and
Haryana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
The study findings emphasize that in India, masculinity,
i.e., men’s controlling behavior and gender inequitable attitudes,
strongly determines men’s preference for sons over daughters as well as their
proclivity for violence towards an intimate partner – both of which are
manifestations of gender inequality. Masculine control in women’s lives
affects their own experiences of intimate partner violence and preference for
sons. The study finds that ultimately eliminate son preference and
intimate partner violence in India, it is critical to develop and implement
national policies and programs that involve men in promoting gender equity
and diminishing socio-cultural and religious practices that reinforce gender
discrimination.