Honour-based violence: Analysis of social awareness among university students in Catalonia

Abstract

Honour-based violence is a form of violence against women, an umbrella term that encompasses various practices aimed at preserving or restoring family honour. Addressing this issue at an institutional level requires greater social awareness. This research analyses the level of knowledge about this form of violence as a general concept and its various manifestations in a sample of 3,005 university students in Catalonia, assessing the influence of sociodemographic variables and victimisation experience. The results reveal limited knowledge of the general term, although there is a high level of familiarity with some of its specific expressions. Variables such as gender, type of education, origin and religiosity significantly influence the level of knowledge, while the residential environment, family structure and victimisation are not relevant predictors. The study concludes with proposals for action to increase social awareness of this reality among young people.