Domestic violence is complex, sometimes elusive, but real. Researchers and practitioners often
associate this phenomenon with gender-based power in which men’s physical, sexual and
psychological violence results in women’s suffering. This paper reports on research on domestic
violence and considers contributing powers of silence in triggering, sustaining and strengthening
men’s violence towards women. The study was conducted in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.
Twenty women and four key informants participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews.
Cultural and traditional practices, religious beliefs and economic dependency of women on men
were the main reasons for silence instead of rebelling against the abuse. While these reasons
influenced women to endure the domestic violence and to be mute in pain, in silence, this imposed
silence was also powerful in triggering further abuse at the same time as reinforcing family and
community tolerance of domestic violence towards women.