Domestic Violence in Zimbabwe: Education and Legislative System

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2011 in the subject Sociology - Gender Studies, grade: A-, Ewha Womans University (Graduate School of International Studies), course: Gender and Development, language: English, abstract: One of the generally agreed techniques likely to facilitate high reductions of incidences of domestic violence among women is to empower them through education. This is because education has been regarded as the most significant instrument for changing women's subjugated position in the society. It not only develops the personality and rationality of individuals, but qualifies them to fulfill certain economic, political and cultural functions and hence improves their socio-economic status. The Zimbabwean case reveals that men and women with more than secondary education are less likely to justify domestic violence. However, the Zimbabwean case is peculiar in the sense that domestic violence permeates the whole society regardless of educational levels. Educated men and women perpetrate and experience domestic violence respectively irrespective of their educational levels. It is in this regard that this paper sought to establish why this is so by scrutinizing the education curriculum as well as analyzing whether the legal framework has contributed to reducing domestic violence.

Tsitsi is a Youth and Women Empowerment Specialist, a policy coordinator and a specialist in project planning, implementation and review. She holds a Master of International Studies (Development Cooperation) from Ewha Womans University where she was also conferred a Masters in International Studies (Women and Development). She also holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Zimbabwe. She has a degree in Politics and Administration (University of Zimbabwe), a certificate and Diploma in Human Resources Management, a certificate in Professional Leadership (Ewha Womans University) and a certificate in Conflict Sensitive Approaches to Humanitarian Assistance and Peace Building (UNIFEM). Tsitsi has wide experience in designing youth empowerment, women and community development projects in response to community needs. Since 2003 she has been working for the Government of Zimbabwe in women empowerment and youth empowerment activities. Currently she is a District Development Officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Development in Zimbabwe. She is also a Senior Lecturer at the Center for Development Studies.