Experiences of Abused Unemployed Young Women at Acornhoek Village, Bushbuckridge Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Abstract

Domestic violence and the economic dependency of unemployed young women are inextricably intertwined. Hence, the most reason why women become victims of domestic abuse is because they are financially dependent on their partners. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the link between domestic violence and the economic dependency of unemployed young women. A qualitative research method was embarked upon to solicit the views of young women who depend on their spouses for their survival. The population was abused, and unemployed young women aged between 28 to 35 years who are from Acornhoek village in Bushbuckridge Municipality. Non-probability purposive and snowball sampling was used as a method to select the participants. To choose the participants, a non-probability purposive and snowball sampling technique was adopted. Ethical considerations were considered for the sake of confidentiality and the safety of the research participants. Semi-structured interviews were employed in the study to obtain data. A thematic data analysis approach employing Atlas.ti software was used to systematically evaluate and report the data. The study revealed that economic independency does not give an individual immunity to abuse. However, it also revealed that economic dependency puts young women at a greater risk of being domestically victimized by their intimate partners. Men view financial support as a grant for entitlement over their partners.