“DOES OUR CULTURE PROMOTE ABUSE?” BRIDEWEALTH AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN GHANA

This study investigates the cause-effect relationship between bridewealth and domestic violence in two domains of women’s lives (contraception and women’s personal economic activities). It also examines domestic violence at different levels of bridewealth payment using the “vignette experimental” method with a sample of 276 women in rural areas. The general linear model and multiple linear regression results show a significant of bridewealth on domestic violence. On the other hand, the results also show that the effect of bridewealth on domestic violence does not differ between the domains of women’s behaviours. Domestic violence was also found to be associated more with full bridewealth payment than with no bridewealth paid. The findings underscore the effects of the custom of bridewealth payment on domestic violence. It is therefore important that the cultural norms surrounding with bridewealth payment be explored further for future female empowerment research especially for national level policies.