Acceptability of Gender-Based Violence

This indicator measures the proportion of either men or women who consider wife beating as an acceptable way of treating wives.

Collect the following data by conducting individual interviews with a representative sample of your target group members:

RECOMMENDED SURVEY QUESTIONS (Q) AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS (A)

Introduction: Now, I am going to ask several more sensitive questions. There are no right or wrong answers, so please answer depending on how you feel about the topics. Please be as honest with your answers as you can. Again, I would like to assure you that your answers will be kept secret and that you do not have to answer any questions, that you do not want to.

Q1: In your opinion, is it acceptable for a man to beat his wife if she goes out without telling him?

A1: yes / no / did not respond

Q2: In your opinion, is it acceptable for a man to beat his wife if she neglects the children?

A2: yes / no / did not respond

Q3: In your opinion, is it acceptable for a man to beat his wife if she argues with him?

A3: yes / no / did not respond

Q4: In your opinion, is it acceptable for a man to beat his wife if she refuses to have sex with him?

A4: yes / no / did not respond

Q5: In your opinion, is it acceptable for a man to beat his wife if she burns the food?

A5: yes / no / did not respond

Q6: In your opinion, is it acceptable for a man to beat his wife in any other situation?

A6: yes / no / did not respond

To calculate the indicator’s value, divide the number or respondents who agreed with beating wives in one or more situations by the total number of respondents (exclude those respondents who did not respond to one or more questions + those where the enumerator did not record one or more answers). Multiply the result by 100 to convert it to a percentage. 

Disaggregate the data by the respondent’s age group, ethnicity, education level, and other factors depending on the local context.

1) Be aware that the questions listed above are prone to social desirability bias – not everyone might be willing to admit that s/he agrees with beating women (especially if s/he knows that it is something the enumerator’s organization discourages). Ensure that the previous parts of the questionnaire are designed and the interviews are conducted in as neutral manner as possible. Read IndiKit’s Rapid Guide to Individual Interviews for tips on reducing the social desirability bias (page 3).

2) In the case the answer to question 6 is “yes”, consider asking: Can you please tell me in which other situation is it acceptable for a man to beat his wife?

3) Collecting data about gender-based violence is sensitive and can cause harm. Take advantage of IndiKit's Rapid Guide to Collecting Survey Data on GBV (see below) to know how to minimize the risk of any harm and ensure the desired quality of collected data. 

4) This indicator is based on the DHS Model Questionnaire (Phase 7) and IGWG / MEASURE Evaluation (2008) Violence Against Women And Girls: A Compendium of M&E Indicators (see below). Bear in mind that the survey questions might need to be changed depending on the context.