Domestic violence is a reality in many families around the world. Since I come from a relatively safe background, the fact of domestic violence appeals to me. I used to think that this was a problem mainly in developing regions and among the uneducated, but it was corrected once I became sensitive to the realities on the ground. According to global estimates published by the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women worldwide has suffered physical and/or sexual violence in her life. Domestic violence is not something that occurs purely in purely and if I may add harshly patriarchal structures, but also in so-called progressive cultures. It is as big a problem in the United States as it is in India, although the levels and types of interventions may differ. Domestic violence is a sad fact because it reveals the lack of respect and honor given to women not only in society in general but within the confines of their own homes.
The National Crime Records Bureau reveals that every three minutes a crime is committed against a woman; a woman is raped every 29 minutes; a dowry death occurs every 77 minutes, and a case of cruelty committed by the husband or husband’s relative occurs every nine minutes. This occurs despite the fact that women in India are legally protected from domestic abuse under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005. The Act provides a definition of domestic violence that is comprehensive and includes all forms of physical violence. , emotional, verbal, sexual. , and economic violence, and covers both actual acts of such violence and threats of violence. Despite having such systems, domestic violence still continues its demonic existence within families.
In the case of domestic violence, the victim is often the woman who is perceived as subservient to her male counterpart. According to the National Survey of Family Health – 4 (2016) carried out by the Ministry of Health of the Union, one in three women, from the age of 15, has faced domestic violence in various forms. The survey reveals that 27 percent of women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15 in India. These are quite disturbing figures. Never mind that these cases are more common in rural than in urban areas. The worrying thing here is that something as demeaning and barbaric as this is happening even in our country. India’s listing in a Thomson Reuters report as the “fourth most dangerous country” in the world for women does not help our cause. No country is without its flaws, but for a country that worships female deities…it doesn’t speak highly of us.
When we think of domestic violence, we are likely to think of husbands as the main perpetrators. While this is true to some extent, he is not the only offender. 31 percent of married women, according to the survey, have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence from their spouses. While married women are likely to receive problems primarily from their husbands in addition to other family members such as in-laws, single women have also reported physical violence primarily from their mothers or stepmothers (56%), fathers or stepfathers ( 33%). , sisters or brothers (27%) and teachers (15%).
As if this wasn’t enough to sour the mood, pollsters uncovered a chilling fact: women in India support domestic violence! Yes, you read it right. The data shows that women between the ages of 40 and 49 were the most supportive of domestic violence, with 54.8% agreeing. Surprisingly, the percentage justifying abuse is only marginally lower among younger women. 47.7% of girls between 15 and 19 years old agreed with domestic violence. 54.4% of rural women agreed with domestic abuse while 46.8% of urban women supported it.
Take a minute. Go through the numbers again and think about what they have to say. The Indian family is definitely not a healthy place. Nearly 50% of families are affected by domestic abuse, whether by spouses, parents, in-laws, siblings, children, or other relatives. This made me understand the serious situation in which the women of our country find themselves. For most of my life, domestic violence was something I read about in the paper or saw on TV. But after listening to a colleague share her experience of domestic abuse, I couldn’t ignore her ugly existence anymore.
This got me thinking: How can we prevent domestic abuse from happening? Education has a critical role to play in alleviating this grim situation. The main distinguishing factor in the acceptance of domestic violence is education, much more than income, or even age. The report indicated that cases of domestic violence, including physical and sexual violence, decrease dramatically with schooling and education. Cases of physical or even sexual violence are significantly lower among educated people than among the uneducated. But this alone is not enough.
A legal framework is put in place to address domestic violence issues, but often these issues do not reach the courts or even the police because of the culture of conservatism and the shame that goes with it. However, women must be aware that behind them is the strong arm of the law. Numerous NGOs are working around the clock to ensure that women’s rights are upheld and that their grievances are heard. Domestic abuse is a stain on the character of any society and concerted efforts must be made to erase it completely. The road ahead is hard and the battle has already begun. But have soldiers prepared for war? The side effects of domestic abuse, as well as those of outside interventions, are numerous and threaten the overall fabric of family and society, but justice must be served. How and by whom are important and urgent questions, but if everyone can take the bold step to adequately prevent and/or address abuse, they would be playing an important role in restoring the integrity of society’s character.
