‘Violence exists to show manhood’: Nepali men’s views on domestic violence – a qualitative study

Figures & data

Table 1. Profile of participating Nepali men.

Group	Age	Education	Occupation	Number of participants
1	27–52	illiterate; primary and secondary school, SLC	farmers	10
2	22–44	can read & write; primary and secondary school	farmers; service; business	10
3	35–81	Illiterate, can read & write; primary and secondary school; SLC	farmers; service; business	10
4	18–40	can read & write; secondary school	service; business; unemployed	7
5	32–47	university	teachers; clinicians	5
6	26–58	primary and secondary school; SLC	farmers; service; social work; job abroad	8
7	34–65	can read & write; primary school; SLC	service; business	7
8	34–65	can read & write; secondary school; SLC; university	business; service; teachers	9

Can read and write; able to understand simple sentences, SLC; School Leaving Certificate (finished 12 years of education).

Table 2. Examples of the analytic process derived from Focus group discussions.

Content area	Meaning unit	Condensed meaning units	Codes	Categories	Descriptive theme
Traditional family norms that influence the occurrence of violence	Everyone blames men, but it is not like that Men are also violated This does not come out, because our country is male dominated, so a man hesitates to express that he is violated by a woman	Blaming men Men are violated A man hesitate to express he is violated	A man should discipline his family Both genders are violent Expected male dominance	Families’ expectations Cultural acceptance that both men and women are violent	Questioning putting the sole responsibility for violence on men

Table 3. Nepali men’s perception of social and cultural norms related to domestic violence.

Content areas	Categories	Descriptive themes
Social norms and cultural practices that are harmful to women	Son preference Religion, cultural practices and gender inequity The meaning of being a man	Considering gender socialization and norms which threaten women’s safety
Traditional norms within families that influence the occurrence of violence	Families’ expectations Cultural acceptance that both men and women are violent	Questioning putting the sole responsibility for violence on men
Social norms that protect women from domestic violence	Pregnancy – a period of protection? Changing social norms Women are gaining independence	Seeing a transition of gender norms and roles
Continuing challenges that may undermine the positive trends in changing social norms	Uncertainty about the right to intervene when witnessing other men’s violence Reduction in domestic violence is needed but it is also important to preserve Nepali traditions	Acknowledging the conflict between need for change and maintaining Nepali traditions