Domestic Violence

The phenomenon of domestic violence is as old as humans. Violence in homes is going on since hundreds of years all over the world. Society deliberately formulated beliefs and traditions which facilitated this form of violence – especially towards women. That is – social norms were deliberately floated to ensure the subordination of women.

Domestic violence manifests in many ways – spousal, man on woman and woman on man; adults’ children and children on adults; woman on woman and man on man. Sometimes, domestic violence also manifests as family wars or clan wars. Overtly, subordination of women has always helped to shape the course of this violence. The percentage of domestic violence is always more in countries where the laws and social norms diminish the status of women. Woman is usually the chief victim of domestic violence.

Domestic violence was recognized as a specific problem in United States in 1983. Domestic abuse became a matter of public awareness during the women’s movement of the 1970s. This served to change the course of American history and had a visible impact on the whole world. In India, domestic violence came to be formally recognized as a specific criminal offence, when section 498 A was introduced in the Indian Penal Code. This section is formulated to deal with cruelty by a man or his family, towards a married woman.

The rate of domestic violence is extremely high in countries like Egypt and Zambia. However social activists in India are of the opinion that the attitude of society is a strong deterrent for steps taken to diminish or eradicate the scourge of domestic violence.

Domestic violence can be engendered by stress – that is created from living in a family situation. The perpetrator and the victim can be anyone. Family pressures can create a pressure cooker situation for some individuals causing them to burst.

Economic and social circumstances can also induce tension which can result in violence. Women are more vulnerable to domestic violence world over, because they are economically dependent on their male counterparts, have children to care for, and are physically weaker. Dependents can be coerced and violated with more ease, because it is more difficult for them to make an exit, or escape a violent partner or family members.

The human need for control and coercion to deal with individual need for security, in order to handle personal complexes, has mainly lead to violence within the four walls of homes since the beginning of human society. This is due to socio- economic circumstances, and the personality of the perpetrators and the victims. Psychology plays a big part in the domestic drama of violence. Gender issues also play a big part in domestic violence – woman being the more vulnerable sex.

Men, old people and children can also become victims of domestic violence in specific situations. Above all, Domestic violence is an intrinsic part of human society since times immemorial, because it is often impossible to escape the four walls, within which one lives with other human beings. An escape from abuse in domestic set ups is almost impossible, correction being a more practical solution.