Predisposing, Enabling, and Reinforcing Factors in the Normalization of Intimate Partner Violence: A qualitative study of Afghan Refugee Women's Experiences in Torbat Jam Camp, Iran, 2025
This 2025 qualitative study of 24 Afghan refugee women in Torbat Jam, Iran, identifies that the normalization of intimate partner violence is primarily driven by predisposing factors rooted in historical-cultural structures and gender inequality, followed by enabling factors related to displacement challenges, and minimal reinforcing factors, necessitating interdisciplinary interventions focused on gender justice.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
Violence between partners is not merely a private conflict; it is a public health crisis that touches the lives of millions, often hidden behind closed doors. To understand why this violence happens and why it sometimes continues even when it causes immense suffering, researchers often look at three layers of influence. First, there are the things inside a person's mind: their beliefs, what they think is normal, and what they fear. Second, there are the things around them that make certain actions easier or harder, such as having money, access to help, or the ability to speak the local language. Third, there are the reactions from the people around them—family, neighbors, or community leaders—who might encourage the behavior or try to stop it. When these layers combine, they can create an environment where violence becomes accepted as a way of life, especially for women who have been forced to flee their homes and start over in a foreign land.
A team of researchers set out to explore these layers specifically among Afghan women living in a refugee camp in Iran. They focused on Torbat Jam, a settlement established decades ago to house thousands of displaced families. The researchers wanted to understand why intimate partner violence, which includes physical, emotional, and sexual harm from a spouse, persists in this community. They did not just ask for statistics; they sat down with twenty-four women and listened to their stories. These women, who had lived in Iran for an average of over twenty-five years, shared their experiences of fear, silence, and the difficult choices they faced every day. By listening closely, the researchers mapped out the specific reasons why violence happens, why it is allowed to continue, and what stops women from seeking help.
The study began by gathering these women in a quiet room at the camp clinic. The researchers asked simple, direct questions about their lives: What does violence look like in your home? What makes your husband angry? What stops you from leaving or reporting the abuse? The conversations were recorded and carefully analyzed, not to find a single cause, but to see the pattern of factors that push, enable, and reinforce the cycle of abuse. The women shared that their lives were shaped by a deep sense of resignation. Many had grown up watching their own fathers beat their mothers. This early exposure taught them that violence was a normal part of marriage, a lesson passed down from one generation to the next. When a woman sees her father strike her mother, she may grow up believing that a husband has the right to use force to control his wife. This belief becomes a powerful force, making it difficult for a woman to see her own suffering as something that should be fought against.
Beyond what they learned in childhood, the women described a web of beliefs that kept them trapped. Many felt that reporting violence to the police or seeking help would bring shame upon their families. They feared that if they spoke out, their husbands would become more violent, or that their own fathers would be forced to intervene in ways that could lead to even greater tragedy. Some women believed that their husbands' anger was justified if they had not cooked a meal perfectly, if they had argued back, or if they had left the house without permission. These ideas were not just personal thoughts; they were reinforced by the wider community. In-laws, particularly mothers-in-law, often sided with the husband, telling him that his wife was at fault or encouraging him to be strict. In one account, a woman described how her mother-in-law, living far away, would constantly interfere in her marriage, telling her husband to divorce her and creating tension that fueled the violence.
The environment of the refugee camp itself played a significant role in making it hard to escape. The women explained that they felt they had very few resources to turn to for emotional support. One participant noted that in the camp, "there's no one to share life's problems with," while others expressed a desire for a court or a place to vent their feelings, suggesting a gap in accessible support services. For many, the language barrier was a wall; they could not speak the local language well enough to ask for help or understand their rights. The camp was crowded, with families living in close quarters, which meant that privacy was scarce and the stress of daily life was always high. Addiction was another major factor; the easy availability of drugs and opium in the area contributed to unpredictable and violent outbursts. When a husband was under the influence, the violence could escalate quickly, and the women felt powerless to stop it. They also noted that the lack of a strong legal framework to protect them made them feel invisible. Even though laws existed to protect women, the women did not know about them, or they did not believe the laws would be enforced in their favor.
The researchers found that the women's ability to resist violence was often crushed by a lack of self-belief. Many felt that they had no control over their lives. They believed that their fate was sealed, that they were destined to suffer, or that their only option was to endure the pain in silence. This feeling of powerlessness was not just a personal weakness; it was a result of years of being told that their opinions did not matter and that their role was to submit. However, the study also revealed small moments of change. A few women mentioned that when they started working or gained a little financial independence, they felt more confident. They began to speak up, and in some cases, the violence decreased. This suggested that giving women a voice and a way to support themselves could be a powerful tool against abuse.
The study concluded that violence in this community is not a simple matter of bad individuals, but a complex system where culture, poverty, and fear work together to keep women trapped. The researchers emphasized that to stop this cycle, interventions must address all three layers. It is not enough to just teach women about their rights; they also need access to safe spaces, legal protection, and economic opportunities. The community leaders, including religious figures and elders, must be part of the solution, helping to change the norms that justify violence. The findings suggest that without a coordinated effort to change the environment and the beliefs that support it, the violence will continue. The women in Torbat Jam are not just victims of circumstance; they are survivors navigating a landscape where the rules are stacked against them, and their stories offer a clear path for how to build a safer future.
Drowning in papers in your field?
Get daily digests of the most novel papers matching your research keywords — with technical summaries, in your language.