TABLE 4—

Participants’ Responses to Gender-Based Violence After the Intervention: Intervention With Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity Study, Limpopo Province, South Africa, September 2001 to March 2005

Responses	Examples
Within own relationships
Shifts in women’s attitudes toward violence Income-earning status and negotiating power within relationships Confidence to leave abusive relationships	“I have noticed how easy it is for people to say ‘it is our culture’ that I should beat my wife. Health talks have shown me that it is wrong for any man to beat up his wife.”
Reduced tension and conflicts over finances Better communication and conflict resolution with partners	“Now that we have money we are able to say how we feel without fearing that your husband will stop supporting you.” “You can buy him cigarettes from your profit. Because of SEF’s money we are experiencing fewer problems in our households.” “Now we know how to talk to our husbands about sexual matters, but before they would beat you when talking about those things.”
Within loan centers
Speaking openly in loan center meetings about experiences of abuse Confronting members who are contributing to other women’s abuse Solidarity and support when women leave violent relationships	“We are able to overcome abuse when we are in SEF because we get support from the women in the groups. When you engage yourself with other women and listen to their problems that will help you to cope.”
Within communities
Intervening individually when witnessing abuse Being approached by others for advice and assistance Sharing resources with abused women as means of offering support	“Before the training we didn’t know how to handle incidents of domestic violence. When a man abuses his wife and kids we would stare without interfering. But after training, we know exactly what to do.”
Engaging young men (e.g., organizing men’s workshops on domestic violence) Forming new community groups (e.g., village rape committee or village crime committee) to work with local authorities to address violence and support those experiencing abuse Raising community awareness about domestic violence (e.g., participating in marches)	“We have learnt to protect our kids against abuse. They have seen us during our march on 16 Days of Activism (to end violence against women) in the village.”

Note. SEF = Small Enterprise Foundation.