Spousal abuse
When one partner in a marital relationship display violent behaviour towards the other, it is termed as spousal abuse. There are certain causes of such violence:
Cultural Causes might include gender-specific socialization, cultural definitions of appropriate sex roles, values that give men proprietary rights over girls, customs of marriage (bride price/dowry), belief in the inherent superiority of males, acceptability of violence as a means to resolve conflict.
Economic causes usually include women’s economic dependence on men, limited access to employment in formal and informal sectors, limited access to cash and credit, discriminatory laws regarding inheritance and maintenance after divorce or widowhood, limited access to education and training for women, etc.
Major consequences of spousal abuse is victimization include psychological/mental health issues and chronic physical health problems. The victim’s (the person on the receiving end of the abuse) overwhelming lack of resources often lead to homelessness, insecurity and poverty.