The Double Burden of a Pandemic: Examining the Impact of Covid-19 on Domestic Violence Against Women in Pakistan

Sammanfattning: Covid-19 has served as a magnifying lens to the globally prevailing issue of domestic violence against women. This qualitative case study examines why domestic violence against women prevails in Pakistan, what factors have led to its increase during Covid-19, and how have civil society organizations responded to this issue. Primary data was collected through online interviews with 11 civil society actors working for women’s rights in Pakistan. Employing a Feminist Model and Heise’s Ecological Framework, the study’s main findings show that contributory factors include existing gender inequalities such as women’s low level of education and economic disempowerment, and sociocultural and religious indoctrination reinforcing women’s subordination to men. These combined with factors specific to Covid-19, including restricted mobility, women’s reduced access to social networks and other resources, and ensuing mental and economic stressors have made domestic spaces ideal breeding grounds for violence. While civil service organizations have attempted to tackle this issue through various initiatives explored in this study, the attempts remain insufficient. The findings shows that change is needed at all levels as institutions and politicians need to safeguard women’s rights, and women need to be educated and empowered to break out of the patriarchal cycle of dependency on men.