When Beliefs Hurt: The Relationship between Women’s Gender Role Attitudes and Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a pervasive issue in Sri Lanka, shaped by deep-rooted gender norms. This study examines the relationship between women’s gender role attitudes and their experiences of IPV, using data from 200 help-seeking, ever-married women. Gender role attitudes, psychological distress, and experiences of abuse were measured using sections of the WHO Violence Against Women Instrument, alongside the Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory (PMWI). The findings reveal a paradox: women with more liberal gender attitudes reported higher levels of psychological and sexual violence, while those with traditional views faced lower risks of conflict-driven abuse. This suggests that deviation from conventional gender roles may provoke retaliatory or controlling behaviors from partners, highlighting the persistence of patriarchal norms. The study calls for gender-transformative interventions that engage both women and men, and for policy and community-based strategies that challenge attitudes normalizing IPV.