DISCOVERING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES: THE CASE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, AT MARAKI CAMPUS UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR

Abstract

Comparatively speaking, non-disabled women are also exposed to various forms of gender based violence, but those with disabilities are at further risk (Rohwerder, 2021). This study was conducted in the case of undergraduate students at Maraki campus, in University of Gondar from December until June, 2023 to discover gender based violence against women with disability. Accordingly, this study employed qualitative research approach whereby different qualitative data collection sources were triangulated. Hence, qualitative data was obtained until data reaches saturation level via in-depth interviews with 9 voluntarily selected disabled female students: physical impaired (3), visual impaired (3), and (3) hearing impaired. In addition, there was 3 FGDs having 24 participants who were selected by means of quota sampling technique, prearranged for 3 groups of disabled female students with eight members to each category. On the other hand, intrinsic case study was adopted to generate data from 3 respondents who were selected from women with physical, visual, and hearing impairments using purposive sampling. Beside: primary sources of data, secondary was also taken from related literatures. Regarding the analysis method, all qualitative data was analyzed through thematic analysis. The main finding of this study was that, women with disabilities have been experiencing gender based violence. In other words, women with physical, visual, and hearing disabilities were exposed for physical, sexual, and verbal violence. For example, scratching, biting, strangling, kicking, slapping, punching, shoving, throwing object, pulling hair, burning, suffocating, cutting, stabbing, shooting, and beating were among physical violence experienced by women with disabilities. On the other hand, rape, molestation, kissing, sexual harassment, abduction and early marriage were kinds of sexual violence they faced. Moreover, name-calling, yelling, insulting, intimidating, gossiping and demeaning were categories of verbal violence encountered across their lifetime. Therefore, women with physical, visual, and hearing disabilities were at higher risk of physical, sexual, and verbal violence. Based on the major findings, this study recommends a bundle of actions to be taken. Such as, there is an urgent need for women with disabilities to deal with trauma, anxiety, depression, and post stress chronic disorder caused by sexual, physical, and verbal violence. So, to change the frame of mind for such victims’ trainings, seminars, and workshops needed to be given by the concerned body, particularly University of Gondar shall take appropriate intervention on these areas. In addition, offering sufficient counseling services by psychiatrists, and professionals from special needs and gender departments for victims of gender based violence is very paramount. .