Marital violence among Albanian women

Violence against women in Albania is a serious human rights issue, and yet it is not a topic discussed openly in society. This study aims to investigate the seriousness of the problem within Albanian society with the purpose of providing valuable data on grounds which could likely be used by social workers in the area. This book is based on case studies of women’s experiences in violent relationships in Berat, Albania. Participants include fifteen married Albanian women who were once or currently being abused in their homes during the time of their interviews. Specifically, the research focuses on the forms and factors that cause marital violence, as well as coping strategies employed by the victims. In fact, the cultural factor contributing to the less-thanideal treatment of women comes from the traditional patriarchal Albania norms that existed prior to even the advent of Islam. Against this backdrop, research suggests that what pushes traditionally inclined men is not so much the patriarchal tendencies alone but, much like other social ills found in Albania today, the economic and social changes that are gripping the country.