WOMEN’S WORK AND SPOUSAL VIOLENCE IN EGYPT: WHAT IS THE RELATION?

Several research in Egypt show that working women are exposed to higher levels of spousal violence than those who are not working. In this paper an in-depth analysis is performed using logistic regression to study such relation by accounting for detailed work characteristics, relative financial contribution of women to their household and their earnings relative to their spouses. Data from the Survey of Measuring the Situation of Women and Living Conditions (2007) are utilized. Common theories that explain the relation between women’s work and exposure to spousal violence are investigated to understand whether the symbolic or economic meanings of work are the lead factors in the relation in Egypt. Findings of this research goes with earlier research that shows that having secondary education or higher and living in households having highest levels of SES significantly lowers risks of exposure to spousal violence. Results support the dominance of the symbolic meaning of work; respondents working in jobs with higher quality (security) have lower risks of exposure; those who earn more than their spouses experience the highest level of exposure. Respondents who spend all their earnings in the household or have non-financial work-related problems with their spouses experience higher odds of exposure.