Author(s)

Gloria Bao

Corresponding Author

Gloria Bao

ABSTRACT

It is estimated that approximately 30% of women face intimate partner violence (IPV). This instance is more of a gendered issue with women predominantly reporting more cases of IPV than men. This paper focuses on the female victims and is not limited to heterosexual couples only. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a spike in IPV cases which makes it an imperative issue to evaluate and tackle. When taking a closer look at IPV, it is one indicator of lack of freedom. It entails the encroachment of the natural rights of the victims in terms of privacy violation; more specifically with the ownership of a person's wellbeing. The paper aims to study the relationship between IPV and freedom through case studies of three countries: the USA, Syria and Estonia. A deeper dive into the cause behind domestic violence shows that factors such as religion, toxic masculinity and gender stereotyping play a role in IPV. Increasing education about gender and gender equality, providing a safe space for victims to speak about their experiences and offering resources for them to find a way out of the situation are some ways that can help reduce IPV. The stigma around this topic too needs to be eradicated to ensure there is success in reducing the cases of IPV.

KEYWORDS

Intimate partner violence, IPV, Freedom