We were at once shocked and unsurprised, as if marital violence had been lurking on our bottom porch step all along.

Owning land or a house signifies a woman's option to exit a violent relationship and deters marital violence.

According to a 2005 study of marital violence and property ownership, 49% of propertyless women experience physical violence and 84% experienced psychological abuse.

It is difficult to pinpoint the causes of marital violence but economic dependence is widely acknowledged as one of the main sources.

Land or property ownership provides women who may be experiencing marital violence with a credible exit option.

In many developing countries, where marital violence is prominent, barriers such as unequal laws and social and administrative bias keep women from owning land and property.

A vast number of women are left out of owning immovable property (land or house) furthering their likelihood of experiencing marital violence.

A dreamboat he's not, but at least he's incapable of marital violence, if only on technical grounds.

Of course we are opposed to marital violence, who would not be?

The problems faced by Roma women are particularly striking, for example, in relation to marital violence or unwanted pregnancies.