Towards a More Inclusive Understanding

Abstract

While domestic violence is a prevalent phenomenon in Algeria, little do we know about the dynamics of gender inequality that shape the experiences of women subjected to violence. Through an intersectional lens, this thesis endeavors to investigate the way in which gender and the socio-economic status of the victims interact with the hegemonic social mindset and cultural norms in determining the trajectory of their experiences with domestic violence. To address this gap in the literature, semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with victims of abuse from heterogenous backgrounds in the province of Djelfa. The findings reveal that the interplay of gender and social power imbalances produce interlocking socioeconomic factors of privilege and oppression that impact women’s experiences and their coping mechanisms with domestic violence. Finally, this thesis suggests the urgent need for implementing a multidimensional approach to designing policies and intervention measures to protect women from domestic violence, that takes into consideration the heterogeneous nature of the victims' backgrounds.