Exploring the Linkages Between Women’s Paid and Unpaid Work and Their Experiences of Intimate Partner and Non-Partner Violence in Nepal

Economic bargaining models contend that women’s paid work reduces violence experienced due to increased bargaining power, while male backlash models argue that violence is likely to increase as the traditional male breadwinner role is threatened. The empirical linkages between women working for pay and experiencing men’s violence are also mixed. This study examines the association between women’s paid work participation and their experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner violence (NPV). It uses multivariate probit regressions to analyze survey data from 937 randomly selected women members of cooperative societies spanning the seven districts of Nepal. The paper hypothesizes that in a traditional setting like Nepal, working women are more likely to experience increased violence as they transgress traditional gender roles. Results suggest that employed women experience both IPV and NPV. Investments in longitudinal studies are needed to understand the point at which economic empowerment yields reversals in violence experienced.HIGHLIGHTS Women’s work statuses influence their experiences of different forms of men’s violence in Nepal.Women’s paid work participation is not necessarily protective against violence by increasing their bargaining power.Women’s employment may increase exposure to violence because of underlying gender hierarchies.Longitudinal research is needed to understand when economic empowerment may avert violence.