Bearer of honor

Honor as a value system is a patriarchal social construct. Women and girls are regarded as bearers and protectors of the family’s reputation and social standing. They are expected to conform to cultural norms regarding, for example, chastity, obedience, as well as clothing and behavior in public. The control of the female body and sexuality plays a central role in maintaining family honor. In the event of a violation, other family members are expected to restore the “family honor,” if necessary through violence against the woman concerned.

However, the pursuit of an independent and self-determined life in terms of one’s own housing, career choices, and social relationships can also trigger violence within the family. Since the family often holds a very high status and family ties are very close, psychological pressure and emotional blackmail already serve as highly effective means of making a girl comply. Restrictions on freedom and physical violence then represent the next stage of escalation.

It is important to note that violence against women is not religiously motivated but rather patriarchal-cultural in nature. For example, organizations such as SOLWODI repeatedly encounter women from Christian families who are affected by honor-based violence. Experiences of devaluation and discrimination, financial concerns, and professional difficulties can also lead perpetrators to resort to traditional behavioral patterns in order to create a sense of “stability” within the family unit. Often, there is also a lack of support from the extended family, which could otherwise help to mediate in conflicts.

Traditional cultural norms and behaviors often require a long-term process to be overcome. For example, it was not until 1962 that women in Germany were allowed to open their own bank accounts. It was only in 1977 that they were permitted to work without their husband’s consent, and “marital rape” was not legally recognized as a criminal offense in Germany until 1997.