Domestic Violence

Violence against women puts huge pressure on a nation’s socio-economic fabric resulting in heavy losses in terms of productivity.

According to a UN press report two third of married Indian women are victims of domestic violence. Seventy percent of married Indian women between the ages of fifteen and forty nine were proven victims of ugly incidences like rape, beating, forced or coerced sex (United Nation Population Fund Report) and each incident of domestic violence leads to the loss of seven working days for a woman in a country like India.

Economically dependent women are generally found to be more vulnerable to violence. A survey done in the Indian state of Kerala sited that forty nine percent of women who owned no property reported violence compared to seven percent from those who had were owners of land and property. It has been found that one out of five women who are victims of rape or attempted rape are abused and coerced by family members or known people. Family counseling centers set up by Madhya Pradesh police department and supported by UNFPA have been extremely helpful in providing legal services in dowry related cases, child marriages, rape and harassment by in-laws.

The efforts of international organizations and Indian government to launch overt campaigns to counter the menace of domestic violence, atrocities against women continue unabated. Women in developed and developing countries even tend to justify wife-beating for one reason or another. Men are seen to violate their female counterpart for neglecting children, going out without informing them, arguing with them, refusing sex and not cooking food properly on time. Deep rooted social conditioning in terms of accepting violence against women inhibits the effectiveness of measures which are taken by governments and social workers against domestic violence. The countering attitude is deep rooted in developing and developed societies all over the world. Violence literally cripples or kills many women between the age of fifteen and forty four, taking a toll on their physical well being and mental health.

The effects of gender based violence are truly devastating. It can translate into life long emotional trauma and take immense toll on human productivity and social health. Abused women are also vulnerable to HIV and put an immense burden on health services and other resources. Moreover the effect of domestic violence extends to the future generation.

The children who witness domestic violence can become psychologically disabled for life. The most common forms of violence against Indian women include female feticide, dowry based harassment and death, physical and mental abuse, sexual trafficking and public degradation. Any protest related to domestic violence is usually smothered within the walls of Indian homes due to the orthodox and patriarchal nature of the society.

Violence can be perpetrated by the of mate or other family members in the joint family system in Indian households. Selective abortion based on the gender of the fetus can be very damaging for a woman who is under great pressure to produce male children. It violates the dignity of being human and can be spiritually damaging for the entire community.