Occupational Prestige and Women’s Experience of Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria

One-in-four women in Nigeria has experienced some type of spousal violence in her life. The present study uses relative occupational positions of women as a proxy for bargaining power and examines it as a potential risk (or protective) factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) in Nigeria, a perspective unexplored by the existing literature. Using the nationally representative 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey NDHS and a multinomial logit regression model, the study examines the association between occupations and IPV. It finds that women in less prestigious occupations have greater odds for experiencing violence. Additionally, women have greater odds of abuse if partners are engaged in more prestigious occupations. The paper extends the analysis by assessing the association between relative spousal occupational prestige and IPV. Findings indicate that women in similar and more prestigious occupations than their male partners have greater odds of experiencing violence. Policy recommendations follow from the results. HIGHLIGHTS Status inconsistencies and women’s resource possession provoke intimate partner violence. Any move toward status equality is a risk factor for women’s experience of abuse. Policies that promote counseling for women working in less prestigious occupations may provide a support system. An increase in legislation that criminalizes domestic violence in Nigeria is needed.