who did not but property ownership in both categories was similar. However the study concludes that gender role stereotypes primarily inform both men and women’s attitudes towards property ownership of on women. believe if the traditional roles as female 1 concludes A 2005 study Property Men Ownership andthat Inheritance Rights of Women formale Socialprovider Protectionand caregiver are maintained, there is no need for property ownership by women. Women, on who the that property ownership by women did not obviously affect violence. In the study, from the women same believe ownership property causewere marital disharmony. therewho aredid subtle faced lines, violence at home, women of who owned can property similar in numbersFurther to women not. indications ownership property does equip with power negotiate status This was thethat same in the wayofwomen responded to thewomen violent situations. Thetowomen who their tried to deal with the wereassert greater in number However, than those ownership who did not but property within theviolence family and themselves. of property doesownership not seem into both the categories was similar. However the study concludes that gender role stereotypes primarily inform both principle role in empowering women. men and women’s attitudes towards property ownership of women. Men believe that if the traditional roles as male provider and female caregiver are maintained, no need for property by Yet, despite these study findings, information fromthere the isfield brought in byownership women’s women. Women, on the same lines, believe ownership of property can cause marital disharmony. Further organizations working at grassroots level reveal that gender based violence does result in relation there are subtle indications that ownership of property does equip women with power to negotiate their to property, especially property owned by women where harassment, intimidation, threats of status within the family and assert themselves. However, ownership of property does not seem to the violence violencewomen. takes place against women due to property ownership where women principle and role actual in empowering are disposed of the property they own or are victimized due to the lack of ownership in relation 2 to dowry, aged women, inheritance especially with land granted by the State . Yet, despite these studyinfindings, information from theregard field to brought in by women’s organizations working at grassroots level reveal that gender based violence does result in relation to property, especially property owned by women harassment, intimidation, threats of violence and actual violence takes Handout 6: Alcohol, drugwhere and other substance abuse and GBV place against women due to property ownership where women are disposed of the property they own or are victimized to theabuse lack of ownership in relation to dowry, aged drawn women,ininSri inheritance especially Links betweendue alcohol and gender based violence are often Lanka where the 2 with regard tofactor land granted by the State underlying that emerges in . community discussions is that gender based violence, particularly domestic violence following alcohol and substance abuse is excused and to an extent Handout 6: Alcohol, drug and other substance abuse and GBV accepted. Links between alcohol abuse and gender based violence are often drawn in Sri Lanka where the 3 Early studies have alcohol abuse to discussions be a problem in over 70% of wife abusers. Most underlying factor thatfound emerges in community is that gender based violence, particularly women identified alcohol abuse by men as the predominant factor instigating and aggravating domestic violence following alcohol and substance abuse is excused and to an extent accepted. wife beatings. Early studies3 have found alcohol abuse to be a problem in over 70% of wife abusers. Most women 4 Aidentified study conducted by FORUT that addresses alcohol and issues in Sri alcohol abuse by men as, an theNGO predominant factor instigating and substance aggravatingabuse wife beatings. Lanka, finds that violence under the influence of alcohol is excused and more or less accepted by 4 A study conducted by FORUT , an NGO that addresses alcohol and abuseofissues in Sri Lanka, surrounding local communities. Further violence is justified by substance consumption alcohol. finds that violence under the influence of alcohol is excused and more or less accepted by surrounding local communities. Further violence is justified by consumption of alcohol. 1 Gunaratne, C. (2005). Property Ownership and Inheritance Rights of Women for Social Protection: The Sri Lanka Experience. Centre for Women’s Research (CENWOR) and International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Colombo. 2 Information gathered from Viluthu, Siyath and Community Trust Fund through discussions. 3 Saravanapavananthan, N. 1982, ‘Wife battering: A study of sixty cases’, Forensic Science International, no. 20, pp. 163-166 / Perera, A. 1990, Battered wife syndrome, a perspective from general practice, Paper presented to the Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, Colombo. 4 Baklien, B & Samarasinghe, D., 2004. Alcohol and Poverty in Sri Lanka. Oslo: Forut. 1 Gunaratne, C. (2005). Property Ownership and Inheritance Rights of Women for Social Protection: The Sri Lanka Experience. Centre for Women’s Research (CENWOR) and International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). 91 Colombo.