The Profitability of Ending the Marital Rape Exception: Ugandan Societal Norms Impeding Women’s Right to Say No
32 Pages Posted: 10 Oct 2019
Date Written: May 10, 2019
Abstract
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global issue, particularly egregious in developing nations. Social norms often protect men who commit certain GBV offenses. One offense men in developing countries are often protected from is marital rape. In Uganda, married women have no protection from rape committed by their spouses. This leads to a pattern of violence between partners in the home. By empowering married women and providing protection from the impunity of marital rape, social norms surrounding GBV will shift. New generations will emerge with the mindset that violence towards one’s wife is no longer socially acceptable. The frequency of violence towards women as a whole would be impacted by this mindset which would empower women. Empowered women raise empowered children, making social change that lasts. The cost of GBV to the global economy is significant. By protecting married women and shifting the social norm surrounding marital rape, there will be an impact on the social norm of GBV and the cost associated with it. Empowered women fuel economic prosperity, which will in turn benefit both the local and global economy.
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Gender-Based Violence, Marital Rape, Gender, Human Rights, International Law, Women's Rights
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