Citation

Aborisade RA. Partner Abuse 2021; 12(4): 409-431.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Springer Publishing)

DOI

10.1891/PA-2020-0030

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As heterosexual cohabitation of unmarried youths continues to rise in a sexually conservative Nigerian society, not much research attention has been paid to cohabiters' exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV). Therefore, this article explores the nature, patterns, and responses of female university students in campus cohabitation to incidences of violence. Drawing on a bricolage of theories, the study examined the social and psychological facilitators of cohabitation of students in Nigerian tertiary institutions and the attendant risks of IPV. Adopting an interpretivist philosophy, qualitative data were collected through 43 interviews conducted with female undergraduate students of three purposively selected universities in South West Nigeria. The study discovered a high occurrence of physical, sexual, social, economic, and emotional violence being experienced by female cohabiters. The risk exposure of Nigeria's female students in cohabitation is particularly made ominous by their acceptance of violent partners and violence as inevitable realities of romantic relationship. As a result of parental lack of knowledge or approval of campus cohabitation and the deep conservative nature of Nigerian society, there is low reportage of IPV, and victims rather endure violent experiences than seek intervention. The article advocates a revisit of the socialization processes of Nigerian society, and addressing of orientations that leaves female gender susceptible to violence acceptance in heterosexual dating relationships.

Language: en