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ABSTRACT
This research article aims to analyze the effect of female empowerment on gender-based intimate partner violence against women in Ecuador, a country where levels of violence stand out in the region. We apply an instrumental variable regression model using official data from the 2019 National Survey on Family Relations and Gender Violence against Women. We found a negative association between women empowerment and intimate partner violence, that is, greater empowerment of women is associated with lower manifestations of intimate partner violence. We also find a positive reverse association between manifestations of intimate partner violence against women and empowerment. This means that a woman who has been a victim of intimate partner violence will be more willing to embrace ideals that empower women. From a public policy perspective, government engagement with promotion of female empowerment will reduce intimate partner violence against women and the costs associated with it.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Cohabitant: The definition of cohabitant differs from the pre-established definitions as it is given by the woman herself, it is understood as the person with whom the woman maintains a relationship but also lives with her.
2 Ecuador’s women population in 2020: 8 819 233 (World Bank, Citation2020).
3 A detailed recategorization is shown in Annex 3 of the supplementary material.
4 UNESCO’s system of information of tendencies in education in Latin America.
5 Recategorized variable, details are shown in Annex 4 of the supplementary material.