%0 Journal Article
%T Gender-based violence and Christianity: Catholic prevention of divorce traps women in an abusive marriage
%J Psychology
%D 2016
%A Simister, John Gordon
%A Kowalewska, Grażyna
%V 7
%N 13
%P 1624-1644
%X This paper reports evidence on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), violence against women by husband or male partner, based on household surveys from many countries. A woman's risk of experiencing domestic violence varies, within a country and between countries, for many reasons. This paper focuses on religion: in particular, comparing Catholics with Protestants. It reports evidence that Catholic women have a higher risk of GBV than Protestant women. A possible explanation for this higher risk is investigated: the ban on divorce by the Catholic Church. Household surveys confirm that Catholics are less likely than Protestants to divorce. Divorce is a possible escape-route for a woman abused by her husband; preventing divorce keeps many women trapped in marriage to a violent husband<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%@ 2152-7180
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/psych.2016.713155