Does Empowering Victim to Earn a Living Reduces the Risk of Domestic Violence Severity? A Narrative Review and A Pilot Study

  • Keng Sheng Chew Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
  • Shirly Siew-Ling Wong
  • Ke Lin Siew
  • Vanitha Kandasamy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33736/jbk.5150.2023
Keywords: domestic violence, economic empowerment. Transtheoretical model of change, Walker’s cycle of abuse

Abstract

Defined as the act of causing or attempting to cause physical, psychological or sexual harm to a person by another person who is either a spouse, former spouse, adult child, parent or any other family members, domestic violence is a global public health issue including in Malaysia. One way to mitigate the risk of domestic violence is through the ability of a domestic violence victim to earn her own income. Unfortunately, although some studies have shown that the higher the income level of victim, the lesser the risk of domestic violence severity, other studies did not demonstrate this relationship. Additionally, different past studies have used different indicators in analyzing the impact of income level on domestic violence severity. Some studies used household income levels, whilst other studies used the victims’ individual income levels. This paper will discuss on the impact of economic empowerment to mitigate the severity of domestic violence including some conflicting findings in recent literature.  Using the Transtheoretical Model of Change and Walker’s cycle of abuse, this paper will also highlight the importance of creating awareness that domestic violence is not acceptable, adopting a non-judgmental attitude to minimize stigmatization and secondary traumatization as well as rendering social support in helping victims toward a journey of sustained change.  

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Published
2023-06-29
How to Cite
Chew, K. S., Wong, S. S.-L., Siew, K. L., & Kandasamy, V. (2023). Does Empowering Victim to Earn a Living Reduces the Risk of Domestic Violence Severity? A Narrative Review and A Pilot Study. Journal of Borneo-Kalimantan, 9(1), 26 - 35. https://doi.org/10.33736/jbk.5150.2023
Issue
Vol 9 No 1 (2023): Journal of Borneo Kalimantan
Section
Articles

Copyright (c) 2023 Keng Sheng Chew, Shirly Siew-Ling Wong, Ke Lin Siew, Vanitha Kandasamy

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