Unmasking Mongolian Masculinity: How Trauma and Patriarchy Fuel a Cycle of Violence

The study reveals that widespread childhood trauma, patriarchal norms, alcohol misuse, and economic stress heavily shape Mongolian men’s behaviors and drive high levels of violence against women. It argues that real progress requires transforming harmful masculinities, strengthening legal enforcement, and expanding trauma-informed support across society.

A study led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Independent Research Institute of Mongolia (IRIM), and supported by the National Statistics Office and the National University of Mongolia, uncovers a powerful and often troubling portrait of modern Mongolian manhood. Through interviews with 400 men across Ulaanbaatar and eight aimags, the research reveals how shifting gender norms, economic pressure, alcohol culture, and the lingering wounds of childhood shape men’s behaviors and their use of violence. Though Mongolia’s nomadic history nurtured more flexible gender roles, the report shows that patriarchal attitudes and control remain deeply embedded in everyday life, influencing relationships, expectations, and decisions.

Contradictions Inside the Mongolian Home

The study highlights a striking paradox in men’s attitudes. While many respondents describe their relationships as affectionate and respectful, more than 60% still believe a woman must obey her husband, and two-thirds insist that men should have the final say in household matters. Men commonly say they “help” with domestic work, though the term itself reinforces the assumption that the work belongs to women. Views on sexual autonomy are equally contradictory: most men say a wife can refuse sex, yet 40% believe she cannot. These mixed attitudes reveal a society pulled between modern ideals of equality and older expectations of male authority, creating a foundation where control over women is normalized even as equality is verbally endorsed.

The Invisible Spectrum of Violence

Violence within intimate relationships emerges as both widespread and routine. Half of ever-partnered men admit to emotional abuse, including insults or intimidation. More than a quarter report economic abuse, such as preventing a partner from working. Nearly one in five acknowledges physical violence, and 14% say they have committed sexual violence against a partner; 12% admit to marital rape. Many describe these acts as recurring rather than isolated. Although the vast majority claim physical violence is unacceptable, more than half justify beating a wife in at least one scenario, most commonly infidelity or suspicion of it. Jealousy, distrust, and a sense of threatened masculinity surface repeatedly as motivations, showing how male insecurity often fuels coercion and aggression inside the home.

Rape, Entitlement, and a Culture of Impunity

Non-partner sexual violence is alarmingly common. Thirteen percent of men admit to raping a woman outside a relationship, levels unusually high compared to most countries using the same methodology, and 7% confess to participating in gang rape. The most common scenario involves sex with women too drunk or drugged to consent, reflecting a dangerous intersection of heavy drinking culture and limited understanding of consent. Among perpetrators, 87% cite sexual entitlement as their motivation, and 72% mention alcohol; half committed their first rape before age 20. Impunity is widespread: 41% say they faced no consequences, and two-thirds had no legal action taken against them. These findings underscore the urgent need for early education on consent, stronger policing, and cultural shifts that reject the normalization of male entitlement.

Trauma, Stress, and the Making of Violent Men

The roots of violence stretch deep into childhood. Seventy-four percent of men report some form of trauma or neglect while growing up, emotional abuse, physical punishment, witnessing their mother being beaten, or lacking food. Nineteen percent disclose sexual abuse when allowed to report anonymously. These early experiences strongly correlate with later perpetration of violence, depression, and alcohol misuse. The pressures of adulthood compound these vulnerabilities: 41% say climate-related hardships such as dzud have damaged their income or heightened stress, and nearly one in five show signs of depression, particularly young men. High-risk alcohol misuse is widespread, and many men report involvement in fights, weapon use, or gang activities. These layers of instability, psychological, economic, and social, interlock with patriarchal expectations, forming conditions where violence becomes both a coping mechanism and an assertion of identity.

At its core, the report argues that addressing violence in Mongolia requires more than punishing perpetrators, it demands reshaping the systems that shape men. Strengthening implementation of the Law to Combat Domestic Violence, expanding trauma-informed mental health care, tackling binge-drinking culture, and supporting families affected by climate and economic shocks are essential steps. The work of local organizations, including the National Center Against Violence and MONFEMNET, already lays crucial groundwork, but sustained national commitment is needed. The findings show that while many Mongolian men express support for equality, true change depends on transforming the social, economic, and cultural conditions that sustain violence, and building healthier, more humane models of masculinity for generations to come.