Domestic Violence Against Women: A Case Study at the Women and Children Protection Unit (UPT PPA) in Makassar

Abstract

Domestic violence (DV) is a recurring social problem with serious consequences for women’s safety and well-being, yet it often remains hidden due to cultural norms and barriers to reporting. This study aims to develop an in-depth understanding of the forms, triggering factors, impacts, and handling practices of domestic violence against women managed by the Regional Technical Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (UPT PPA) in Makassar City. The study adopts a qualitative case study approach, drawing on primary data from three female survivors of domestic violence who had received services from UPT PPA, including one participant who experienced violence as a child within the nuclear family. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, contextual observation, and document analysis, and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings identify three interrelated forms of violence: psychological abuse, physical violence, and economic neglect, with psychological abuse emerging as the most consistent form and frequently serving as the basis for the escalation of other forms of violence. Triggering factors include poor emotional regulation, aggression, economic pressure, prejudice within intimate relationships, and conflicts arising from social media use, which are further reinforced by patriarchal norms and the cultural value of siri’ that inhibits reporting. The impacts of domestic violence are layered and enduring, encompassing physical injury, emotional trauma, diminished self-esteem, relational distrust, and social isolation. This study focuses on survivors’ experiences within the UPT PPA service system rather than on policy evaluation. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening trauma-informed care, systematic post-mediation monitoring, and culturally sensitive and safe reporting strategies to enhance victim protection and recovery.