Abstract
Most of the previous studies conducted in Pakistan highlighted that men perpetuated violence against women. But the present study examined the involvement of women in domestic violence against other women in the family. The study was qualitative in nature and ten indepth interviews were taken from married women who faced domestic violence. The purposive sampling method was used in which the women belonged to lower-middle socioeconomic class, having duration of marriage more than two years and were living in joint families were selected for the study. The women who were widow, infertile, and had no child were excluded from the study. The data was analyzed thematically. The findings of the study showed that the perpetrators involved in domestic violence were mother-in-law, sister-in-law (nanand), sister-in-law (Jethani or Devrani) and even new bride. It was also found that women mostly involved in domestic violence were in relation of mother-in-law. Moreover, in lower middle socioeconomic status, dowry was the prime reason for perpetrating violence, while power gaining and sharing, no birth of male child and nonperformance of household related duties were also reasons for verbal as well as physical violence. The conclusion of the study showed that women were directly or indirectly involved in perpetrating domestic violence against other women in the family.