ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND TOLERANCE FOR INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE PESHAWAR DISTRICT OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) remains a critical social and developmental issue in Pakistan, shaped by economic constraints, cultural norms, and gendered power relations. This study investigates the determinants of women’s tolerance toward IPV in the Peshawar district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, focusing on women's economic dependence and independence, education, religiosity, male dominance, early marriage, and family honor as underlining drivers. Guided by non-cooperative bargaining and male backlash theories, the analysis uses binary logistic regression on survey data from 424 women. Results show that economic dependence significantly increases women’s tolerance of IPV, reinforcing cycles of vulnerability. Interestingly, economic independence also raises tolerance, highlighting a paradox of empowerment within patriarchal contexts where women’s autonomy may provoke resistance. Early marriage reduces tolerance, suggesting the influence of family and community oversight. Other socio-cultural variables such as education, religiosity, male dominance, and family honor are statistically insignificant. The findings underscore that tolerance of IPV stems from the interaction of economic and socio-cultural factors rather than any single determinant. The study concludes that economic empowerment alone cannot reduce IPV tolerance unless complemented by cultural change, stronger legal frameworks, and awareness of women’s rights, offering insights for policymakers in Pakistan and similar contexts.