International Food Policy Research Institute
Fourth Floor Conference Facility
23 August 2006
Does property ownership enable women to protect themselves from social and economic shocks? Literature has examined the impact of asset ownership for women on various household outcomes, and to a lesser extent its impact on gender equality and women’s empowerment. However, the discourse on empowerment has rarely included an experience of domestic violence, which can be categorized as a grave manifestation of gender inequality. To address this knowledge gap, ICRW undertook a multi-site study exploring the link between property ownership and domestic violence in Kerala, West Bengal and Sri Lanka between 2004 and 2006. In the study domestic violence is understood as a specific social shock experienced by women due to their gender. The study explored in depth the pathways by which property ownership influences the experience of domestic violence. Through qualitative and quantitative research, the study found that women’s ownership of property is indeed a protective factor as it extends their capabilities, expands their negotiating power and enhances their ability to address vulnerability, therefore serving as a critical factor of social protection for them against physical violence.