Domestic violence: understand experiences and perceptions of adult education students at a selected State University in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The focus of this research was on exploring the phenomenon of domestic violence perpetrated by men towards women. The research was inspired by the increasing incidences of women at State Universities and Zimbabwe as a whole who are being abused by men and therefore sought to get an understanding of the dynamics and trends of the phenomenon. The descriptive research design was used in order to describe the situation of domestic violence that is perpetrated by men on their spouses and partners. The study population comprised 10 participants including the researcher. The researcher employed questionnaires and focus group discussion as data collection instruments. In view of the questionnaire responses, the research ascertained that indeed the majority of women suffer abuses at the hands of their spouses and partners. The focus group discussion showed that even men suffer from abuses by their female counterparts but it is the female partner who is the most affected. The study also found that women are mainly vulnerable because they are of financial dependence on men. In light of this, the researcher outlined views from key respondents which are measures that should be taken to address problems at family level and also to raise the awareness of the general populace concerning domestic and intimate partner violence that is being perpetrated by men towards women.