“Pleasure to Pain?” The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Sexual Violence in Marriages: Experiences of Rural Ghanaian Women

Aikins Amoako ASIAMA

doi:10.1177/10778012241248460

“Pleasure to Pain?” The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Sexual Violence in Marriages: Experiences of Rural Ghanaian Women

Aikins Amoako ASIAMA^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Graduate Studies

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

Abstract

In many parts of the world, particularly in rural areas, sexual violence remains a serious issue. However, cultural orientations urge women to be submissive and obedient sexual partners in marriages. Hence, during COVID-19 lockdowns, when women were thought to be sexually assaulted most, this study used a chain referral sample technique to recruit 20 married rural Ghanaian women to examine their lived experiences of sexual violence. The study established that rural culture denies women sexual autonomy in marriages and offers husbands unrestricted access to their wives’ bodies. Sexual violence becomes predominant and unbearable for rural wives during lockdown.

Original language	English
Journal	Violence Against Women
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012241248460
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 2 May 2024

Bibliographical note

I sincerely appreciate Success Adjeley Sowah, Jessica Osaa Asiama, Prof Olivos Francisco, and Dr Luo Muyuan for the various forms of support and constructive suggestions.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic
cultural orientation
lockdown
rural marriage
sexual violence

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1177/10778012241248460

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10778012241248460

Cite this

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title = "“Pleasure to Pain?” The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Sexual Violence in Marriages: Experiences of Rural Ghanaian Women",

abstract = "In many parts of the world, particularly in rural areas, sexual violence remains a serious issue. However, cultural orientations urge women to be submissive and obedient sexual partners in marriages. Hence, during COVID-19 lockdowns, when women were thought to be sexually assaulted most, this study used a chain referral sample technique to recruit 20 married rural Ghanaian women to examine their lived experiences of sexual violence. The study established that rural culture denies women sexual autonomy in marriages and offers husbands unrestricted access to their wives{\textquoteright} bodies. Sexual violence becomes predominant and unbearable for rural wives during lockdown.",

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N2 - In many parts of the world, particularly in rural areas, sexual violence remains a serious issue. However, cultural orientations urge women to be submissive and obedient sexual partners in marriages. Hence, during COVID-19 lockdowns, when women were thought to be sexually assaulted most, this study used a chain referral sample technique to recruit 20 married rural Ghanaian women to examine their lived experiences of sexual violence. The study established that rural culture denies women sexual autonomy in marriages and offers husbands unrestricted access to their wives’ bodies. Sexual violence becomes predominant and unbearable for rural wives during lockdown.

AB - In many parts of the world, particularly in rural areas, sexual violence remains a serious issue. However, cultural orientations urge women to be submissive and obedient sexual partners in marriages. Hence, during COVID-19 lockdowns, when women were thought to be sexually assaulted most, this study used a chain referral sample technique to recruit 20 married rural Ghanaian women to examine their lived experiences of sexual violence. The study established that rural culture denies women sexual autonomy in marriages and offers husbands unrestricted access to their wives’ bodies. Sexual violence becomes predominant and unbearable for rural wives during lockdown.

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JF - Violence Against Women

ER -

“Pleasure to Pain?” The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Sexual Violence in Marriages: Experiences of Rural Ghanaian Women

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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