The Society Without Violence NGO carried out a survey among young couples to clarify the types of abuse that are more widespread. The NGO sent the survey to 159,000 email addresses, of which 4,162 began the survey, but only 1,000 completed it. The results were categorized according to gender and age group: between 16 and 26 years old. Several types of abuse were examined, including psychological, physical, economic, sexual, control, and abuse through technology. It is noteworthy to mention that more male participants stated that they have experienced abuse more than female participants did. The NGO’s representatives said that many women do not realize that, for example, even if their husbands or boyfriends hit them due to jealousy, that is still categorized as abuse.
44 percent of participants stated that their boyfriend or husband wants to know where they are and what they are doing at all times. 68 percent of people who stated that they experienced physical abuse said that it did not continue, whereas 55 percent of people who had been sexually abused said that it only happened once. 91 percent of participants stated that they had faced psychological abuse, and 87 percent of them had faced psychological pressure and continued abuse. Those between the ages of 21-26 are more frequently victims of psychological and physical abuse. Physical abuse is more common in Armenia’s regions. The most common forms of physical abuse include hitting and pushing, and 11 percent of participants stated that they have experienced this.
28 percent of participants stated that they have faced economic abuse, of which 45 percent stated that they have faced economic pressure or continued abuse. This was more common among men between the ages of 21-26, and there were no significant differences between Yerevan and the regions. 33 percent of men and 23 percent of women who participated in the survey have experienced forms of economic abuse.
24 percent of participants experienced sexual abuse, of which 43 percent experienced continued abuse. The most common form of sexual abuse was touching or kissing without consent. Other forms of sexual abuse were much less common. 91 percent of participants had been controlled in some way, of which 86 percent had experienced extreme control or continued forms of it. 61 percent of participants experienced technological abuse. Forms of technological abuse include control over the victim’s phone, using different apps to find their location, checking their calls, messages, repeated calls and texts, and forcing them to send intimate photos. 5 percent of female participants stated that their husband or boyfriend forced them to send intimate photos even after they had declined repeatedly, and 4 percent of men had faced this abuse. 21 percent of female participants have experienced control over their phones, and 25 percent of men experienced this.
Read also
The coordinator of Society Without Violence, Lusine Khachatryan, told Aravot Daily, “According to research, the reason for such widespread abuse is that young people have seen it within their families, so they also become abusive. Or, they become victims of abuse at a young age and simply begin to tolerate it. Television shows and school also play a role. Women are so used to abuse that when they’re asked if they’ve experienced it, or if their husbands have hit them, they say ‘he hit me, which shows that he loves me.’ If the woman defends herself, her husband will say that she’s depraved. A woman’s disobedience is considered to be abuse. This mindset is reflected in the results of the survey.”
Nelly Babayan
