Empowerment backlash: gender based violence amongst adolescent girls and young women peer leaders of Oyam District

Abstract

The study explored the experiences of Gender Based Violence (GBV) amongst peer leaders of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) of Oyam district as a type of empowerment backlash. The study objectives were; to establish the causes of empowerment backlash amongst AGYW peer leaders of Oyam district; to identify the various types of GBV being experienced by the AGYW peer leaders of Oyam district, to assess the effects of GBV amongst AGYW peer leaders of Oyam and to examine the strategies used by the AGYW peer leaders of Oyam district to cope with the experiences of GBV. The research design was grounded in a qualitative framework which provided a deep, contextual, and nuanced insights into the experiences of GBV among peer leaders in Oyam District. The methods used included in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and document reviews. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis with the assistance of Atlas.ti application. The findings indicate that while the DREAMS program has provided economic and psychosocial empowerment, it has also triggered unintended resistance from male partners and community members. Many participants reported negative perceptions and stigma from community members who viewed DREAMS as a program for “failures.” The peer leaders faced resistance from close family members who viewed their participation in DREAMS as disruptive and ’spoiling their good morals.’ Types of GBV included physical, psychological emotional, sexual and economic violence. Male partners often resisted women's newfound financial independence, leading to conflicts over money management, assertive behaviors were viewed as disrespectful as it goes against gender norms. Participants reported psychosomatic symptoms from GBV including ulcers, breathing difficulties, and depression resulting from chronic abuse. Male partners predominantly employed conflict avoidance and economic appeasement while female participants developed more complex resilience strategies as coping mechanisms. The study found that Desired, Resilience, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) as an empowerment initiative had significantly empowered AGYW peer leaders through life-skills such as; assertiveness, decision making, communication skills, access to health information, economic skills, financial independence, and conflict resolution training. Community resistance, stigma, and misconceptions about DREAMS remained major challenges that affected the peer leader’s ability to fully perform their roles. The study recommends increment of community sensitization to change negative perceptions about DREAMS, highlight its benefits to prevent its backlash inform of GBV. There is need for more male, community leaders and parent’s/guardians’ engagements to support AGYW participation and peer leader’s roles while addressing harmful gender norms. Strengthening economic opportunities for AGYW; address project induced backlash such as enrollment restrictions, benefit disparities, delayed payment of stipends and poor time management that caused a lot of backlash on the peer leaders.