Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global crisis, with South Africa emerging as one of the countries most affected by various forms of GBV. This issue transcends social, cultural, racial, and educational boundaries, with women being the most vulnerable victims. For years, GBV has severely infringed on women’s rights. The purpose of this study was to explore the reasons why women remain in abusive marriages. The study adopted an exploratory and qualitative approach, using an interview schedule to collect participant data. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods was used to select participants. The findings revealed that many women continue to stay in abusive relationships even after enduring prolonged periods of violence. The study recommended empowering women to leave these toxic relationships to rebuild their self-esteem, worth, and confidence. Additionally, the research suggested that raising awareness among men about the impact of GBV could help address and reduce abusive behaviors. Finally, the study proposes that the government consider revising its policies and intervention strategies to combat GBV in South Africa. The study might help the government revise its policies, particularly on intervention strategies, to reduce GBV in South Africa. The study may also help the government and stakeholders determine ways of helping women in GBV relationships effectively. Universities teaching Psychology might gain knowledge about the empirical factors that contribute to GBV against women. Keywords: Gender-Based Violence, Patriarchy, Culture, Society, Women
Shilaluke et al. (Wed,) studied this question.