Lineage norms and intimate partner violence among women in Ghana: a qualitative exploration

Until recently, the relationship between lineage and intimate partner violence (IPV) has received little scholarly attention. The majority of earlier studies, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa suggest patrilineal women experience frequent and severe forms of IPV than matrilineal women. However, the studies fail to show how and in what specific ways lineage influences differences in women's IPV experiences across kin groups. They also limit their analysis to patrilineal and matrilineal women, ignoring those identifying with the bilateral kin group. This thesis fills these research gaps. Drawing on qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with 41 women across patrilineal, matrilineal and bilateral kin groups in three of Ghana's administrative regions (Upper East, Ashanti, and Greater Accra), and grounded in the cultural theory, this thesis explores the linkages between lineage norms and IPV. It examines how lineage and social norms, such as bride price payment, influence women's IPV experiences across kin groups. It also probes how access to lineage resources across kin groups may contribute to or protect women from victimization. The findings suggest that while IPV was pervasive across kin groups, it is complex and experienced differently by women depending on the context across kin groups and lineage norms. Patrilineal women experienced severe forms of emotional, economic and physical IPV compared to matrilineal and bilateral women due to rigid patriarchal structures and gender norms, and bride price payments. Their lack of access to resources did not influence their IPV experiences. Matrilineal women experienced less severe forms of all types of violence except for sexual violence. Their IPV experiences were linked to fluidity in gender norms and access to lineage resources, but not bride price payment. Bilateral women experienced the least severe forms of IPV, even though access to lineage resources increased their risk of violence. Bride price payment was, however, unconnected with IPV among bilateral women. The nuanced influence of lineage norms on IPV suggests that specific policy interventions are needed to combat IPV across different kin groups in Ghana.