Experience of dating violence’s victims in Indonesia: A photovoice study

Abstract

Dating violence is one of the major violence issues that is continuously threatening female youth in Indonesia. Dating violence can cause significant negative consequences to its victims, which are often underestimated in areas with strong patriarchal cultures. This study aims to identify the experience faced by dating violence victims, which could help expand the literature and provide insights for better violence prevention programs. Photovoice design was used and data were gathered through interviews and a focus group. Participants involved in this study are nine female youth victims of dating violence in Kupang, Indonesia. Analysis of interviews and focus group identified five main themes: 1) types of dating violence, 2) risk factors, 3) protective factors, 4) impacts of dating violence, and 5) withstanding and withdrawing from the relationship. Dating violence risk factors were patriarchal attitude, social and economic condition, lack of knowledge about dating violence, and exposure to violence. Factors that protect female youth from dating violence were positive self-concept, knowledge about dating violence, the role of parents, educational institutions, and health institutions. Reasons for victims to withstand their dating relationships were varied. Types and impacts of dating violence were also varied based on unique experiences. This study provides a deeper understanding of the experience of dating violence victims through photovoice methodology. These experiences were affected by religious and cultural beliefs distinctive to the Indonesian context, highlighting the need for more culture-fit interventions.

Reasons for Women to Stay in Violent Dating Relationships: Literature Review

“…The results of the literature review show the 10 articles above Asikin et al, 2021;Sintyasari & Fridari, 2021;Kumala, 2021;Prameswari, 2021;Ananda & Hamidah, 2019;Lestari et al, 2022;and Hegel et al, 2022) contains a discussion of the reasons women persist in dating relationships with violence. All articles use qualitative research methods with a case study research design Ananda & Hamidah, 2019;Prameswari, 2021;Sintyasari, 2021), and phenomenology Kumala, 2021;Lestari et al, 2022;.…”

“…Women tend not to want to start a new relationship because they feel lazy and it will be burdensome if they have to repeat the approach process from the beginning, assume that all men will be the same, and think that it is not certain that they will get a boyfriend and a better relationship than the current conditions Sintyasari, 2021;Kumala;Ananda & Hamidah, 2019). In research conducted by , , , Asikin (2021), and Prameswari (2021) this reason is related to subjects who have had sexual relations with their girlfriends so they feel afraid of not being accepted by men other men and the community because they are no longer virgins.…”

“…The subject feels close and accepted in the partner's family, as well as the two families already know each other and trust the subject's partner so they feel sorry if the relationship has to end. Apart from that, the opinions of people around the subject and the mass media which stated that love really needs sacrifice as proof of love also influenced the subject's decision to survive (Asikin, 2021). The existence of emotional support, information support, andsocial companionship from a friendly environment that makes the subject feel like he has a place to spend time and calm down also affects the individual's ability to forget problems with a partner (Sintyasari, 2021).…”

“…Other themes revealed in the literature articles are religiosity, age of relationship, and age of the subject. Reasons related to religiosity were found in research by Asikin (2021) where the subject stated that he survived in a relationship with violence because he tried to forgive the actions of his girlfriend, because religion teaches to always forgive those who do wrong to him. The age or duration of a relationship that has lasted for years makes women feel sorry if they have to end it Sintyasari, 2021).…”

Gambaran Kecemasan pada Perempuan Korban Dating Violence di Kota Bandung

“…Sebuah penelitian deskriptif tentang dating violence menunjukkan bahwa mereka tidak setuju dengan kekerasan, namun sebagian besar dari mereka juga memilih untuk mempertahankan hubungan mereka [3]. Di Indonesia, dating violence masih menjadi sebuah penyalahgunaan perilaku dominasi terhadap perempuan yang masih sering ditutupi karena pandangan orang lain atau adanya tekanan sehingga permasalahan ini masih sulit untuk dijangkau publik [4].…”