The 2006 Maldives Study on Women’s Health
and Life Experiences (WHLE)11 outlined, for the
first time, the extent and nature of gender-based
violence experienced by women. Some questions
with slight variations in answers have been used
to infer the responses from the aforementioned
study to understand attitudes towards women in
the family.
18.2% in 2019) and women (31.5% in 2011 to
27.1% in 2019) who strongly agreed with this
statement has decreased in comparison to 2011.
Table 17: Family problems should only be discussed with people in the family (2005,2011,2019), by gender
2005
A GOOD WIFE ALWAYS OBEYS HER HUSBAND
EVEN IF SHE DISAGREES
An overwhelming 82.9% of respondents were in
strong support of this statement in 2019 consistent
with previous years. There was no significant
difference between the views of men and women.
The support for this statement also demonstrates
the acceptance by both men and women of a
woman’s subordinate role in a marriage.
It is noteworthy that 45.9% of respondents from
outer islands were in strong agreement with this
statement compared to 20.1% from urban regions
who strongly agreed.
Female
Male
2011
2019
2005
2011
2019
Strongly
agree
20.40%
32.80%
18.23%
23.4%
31.50%
27.07%
Agree
40.10%
32.60%
38.54%
38.00%
34.30%
45.02%
4.60%
6.70%
4.17%
3.50 %
6.50%
2.95%
Disagree
26.20%
23.60%
28.13%
27.40%
25.70%
21.04%
Strongly
disagree
4.40%
1.30 %
1.82 %
5.90%
0.90%
0.42%
RF/DK/
NA
0.70%
3%
9.11%
0.80%
1.10%
3.51%
Neutral
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR A MAN TO SHOW HIS WIFE
WHO IS THE BOSS
While the number of men and women who
strongly agreed has decreased in comparison to
2011, the number of men and women who agreed
has increased.
The number of people who believe in this
statement is on a steep decline. Out of the total
respondents, 9.9% stated that a wife should be
shown who is the boss. More women (10.4%)
supported this statement compared to men
(8.6%).
Table 16: A good wife always obeys her husband even if she disagrees
(2005,2011,2019), by gender
Table 18: It is important for a man to show his wife who the boss is , by
gender
Male
Female
2011
2019
2005
2011
2019
Strongly
agree
35.40%
43.90%
30.70%
44.80%
52.40%
38.90%
Strongly
agree
38.40%
Agree
49.40%
30.10%
47.70%
41.10%
34.90%
46.60%
Agree
48.50%
Neutral
3.60%
6.30%
3.40%
3.70%
3.90%
2.40%
Neutral
3.90%
Disagree
8.70%
7.20%
9.90%
8.40%
5.90%
8.30%
Disagree
5.60%
Strongly
disagree
2.70%
0.00%
0.30%
0.90%
0.40%
0.40%
Strongly
disagree
RF/DK/
NA
0.20%
12.50%
8.10%
1.20%
2.60%
3.50%
RF/DK/NA
FAMILY PROBLEMS SHOULD ONLY BE DISCUSSED
WITH PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY
Most of the respondents believed that family
problems should not be discussed with people
outside of the family (66.7%) where more women
(72.1%) tended to believe in this statement than
men (56.8%).
However, the number of men (32.8% in 2011 to
11
https://maldives.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/
WHLESurvey_0.pdf
30
Female
Male
2005
2005
2011
4.17%
38.60%
26.30%
33%
4.43%
47.40%
30.80%
6.03%
7.70%
2.60%
1.30%
8.80%
0.84%
18.50%
57.03%
8.10%
30.40%
67.88%
1.50%
1.00%
15.89%
3.40%
1.10%
16.83%
2.20%
12.30%
15.88%
1.20%
2.60%
4.07%
2005
2011
27.40%
2019
2019
4.35%
Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that more from
the outer islands (24.3%) strongly agree with
this statement when compared with the urban
respondents (6.4%).
IF A MAN ORDERS A WOMAN TO DO SOMETHING
CONFLICTING WITH ISLAM, SHE MUST DO IT
The majority of respondents disagreed with
the statement that a woman has to obey her
husband if he asks her to do something that