How gender norms contribute to gender-based violence in the workplace in Malawi

The research, which was conducted by Revolution Human Aid and Transparency Initiative (REHAAT-INITIATIVE), explores how gender norms contribute to gender-based violence among low-income earning agricultural labourers and domestic workers in Malawi.

The study was conducted in three districts of Nkhata-Bay, Mzimba and Karonga in northern Malawi. Domestic workers work in closed workspaces and agricultural labourers work in remote areas which makes them prone to various forms of GBV with little chances of reporting.

The findings show that the main norms that underpin various forms of violence against women in domestic and agricultural work are the expectations that they will be submissive and will not criticise their superiors, and the non-intervention that results from cultural passivity.