Sociologist: Emotional regulation literacy can prevent violence against women

Makassar (ANTARA) – Dr Nuvida Raf, a sociologist at Hasanuddin University (Unhas), has stated that emotional regulation literacy within family environments is a critical key to preventing violence against women in intimate relationships, both in dating and domestic partnerships.

Nuvida made this statement in Makassar on Saturday, responding to several cases of violence against women, including an incident in Manggala District, Makassar City, which still raises questions about whether the victim set herself alight or was set alight by her partner.

According to her, from a sociological perspective, violence in intimate relationships is not solely triggered by uncontrolled emotions often misinterpreted as a form of love, but is also rooted in gender constructions within society.

The Unhas academic noted that patriarchal structures position men as the dominant party in both public and domestic spheres, whilst women are positioned to be obedient, maintain harmony, and yield. This condition leads men to suppress emotional expression because discussing feelings is considered weak.

Nuvida added that violence in relationships is often accompanied by psychological manipulation such as gaslighting, which causes victims to doubt their own perception and sanity. This practice reinforces emotional dependence and subordination within the relationship.

She emphasised that prevention cannot be achieved through individual efforts alone because violence is a product of social structures involving culture, institutions, and power relations.

Therefore, she said, collective efforts must begin at home through early gender education, equitable division of domestic labour, emotional management literacy, understanding of healthy love, and education about bodily autonomy and consent.