The objective of this paper is to explore the reasons financially solvent women continue to live with their abusive husbands. To that end, a qualitative approach was applied and 11 cases were studied with a view to know the subjective experiences of the victims that they face in their everyday lives. Primary data was collected through face to face interviews using a semi-structured guideline. A thematic approach was applied to organize and analyse data. The findings reveal that the universality of marriage and its effect on women, social acceptance of wife- beating, concerns of a mother for her children, social stigma and shame associated with divorce, parental pressure to cope with violence at the husband’s home, lack of social and legal support, inadequate legal instruments and lack of separate and safe dwelling for women are factors that make financially solvent women continue living with violence. This paper argues that women’s financial independence cannot buy their freedom of choice to leave an abusive relationship in Bangladesh. It recommends effective enforcement of the existing laws related to the issue as well as amendment of them, ensuring safe abodes and financial security for the victims, building mass consciousness and changing patriarchal social values.

DOI : #

Authors : Mohammad Sajjad Hossain and Sharmi Ara Hossain Mishu

Keywords : violence against women, spousal violence, intimate partner violence, domestic violence.