Sex is a taboo but sexual violence is common: An exploratory study of sexual violence among domestic violence shelter residents in Pakistan

Violence against women (VAW), a serious social issue globally, is prevalent in Pakistan, with an estimated prevalence rate between 60% to 80%. This original study adopted an exploratory qualitative approach to examine women’s experiences of VAW and their need for services. Fifty-seven women, who had returned to shelter homes after unsuccessful attempts at family re-integration in Punjab, Pakistan, completed in-depth qualitative interviews. Among the types of violence experienced, unprompted five shelter residents identified a range of sexual violence (SV) experiences including unwanted sexual advances, sexual assaults, rape, and forced prostitution. This disclosure is noteworthy as sex is considered a taboo topic in Pakistani society; it is not openly discussed, even among family members and sexual abuse and sexual crimes are not readily acknowledged or recognized as a part of Pakistani culture. Further, little research on this phenomenon has been conducted in Pakistan. This study employed a secondary qualitative data method to examine the experiences of SV among returned shelter residents. SV was perpetrated primarily by male spouses, other men in the women’s family of origin and their family of marriage, as well as by male employers and by a stepmother (e.g. forced prostitution). Findings of the study agree with other literature highlighting that, among other risk factors, women and girls who are married at an early age are subjected to increased rates of SV. SV needs to be studied more extensively in Pakistan to understand the issue more fully and to develop measures aimed at its prevention and intervention.