The Impact of Economic and Cultural Capital on Perceptions of Violence Against Women: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Violence against women constitutes one of the most pressing social problems in the contemporary world. It manifests in both public and private spheres and encompasses multiple forms, including physical, economic, verbal, emotional, sexual, and digital violence. This study aims to examine how women and men from diverse social backgrounds conceptualize violence against women. More specifically, it seeks to elucidate the extent to which individuals’ economic and cultural capital shape their perceptions and definitions of violence. The study adopts a qualitative research design, employing in-depth interviews with 24 participants from different socioeconomic backgrounds. The data obtained from these interviews were analyzed through content analysis and organized into thematic categories. The findings indicate that economic and cultural capital play a highly determinative role in shaping perceptions of violence against women. Participants with lower levels of economic and cultural capital tend to interpret violence primarily in terms of its physical manifestations and through a more traditional perspective. In contrast, participants with higher levels of capital conceptualize violence in its multiple forms and demonstrate a more analytically informed and critically reflective stance regarding both its underlying causes and potential solutions. The study demonstrates that economic and cultural capital are decisive in the formation of awareness and attitudes toward violence against women. In this regard, the possession of at least a minimum level of economic and cultural capital emerges as a crucial prerequisite for the establishment and functioning of a healthy and equitable society.