Domestic Violence Against Women In India Sociology Essay

interior(prenominal) ferocity Against Women In India Sociology Essay domestic furiousness is an coiffe of physical, sexual or psychological abuse once against a woman by someone who is intimately connected to her through marriage, family relation or acquaintanceship. It has its roots in the patriarchal set up of the society. Women pitch always been considered to be the weaker sex. Right from the later Vedic age to the 21st century, Indian women aim never experienced the freedom that men have. They have always been subjected to inequality. The subordinate locating of women combined with patriarchal ideologies is a major cause of home(prenominal) fierceness. According to United Nation Population Fund Report, near two-third of married Indian women be victims of Domestic personnel attacks. To protect women against Domestic Violence, the Parliament passed The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 According to this act, any woman who has been subjected to intern al violence can file a complaint to the police officer, protection officer or the magist ramble in the form of Domestic Incident Report, which is similar to an FIR. However, this act is not enough. In light of the increasing instances of interior(prenominal) violence against women, the government needs to take more stringent measures to reduce the preponderance of domesticated suspensor violence against women.ObjectivesThe objectives of this project are as follows-What is the magnitude of domestic violence against women in India? What is the prevalence of physical, sexual and psychological abuse against Indian women?What community and families are associated with domestic violence against women? Whether domestic violence is more prevalent in the higher or in the lower strata of the society.MethodologyHypothesis The prevalence of Domestic Violence against women is an indication of patriarchal ideologiesThe survey was conducted in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Ahm adabad in 2012. The survey includes forty women who represent variant families culturally as well socially i.e. they belong to different stratus of the society. The study is based mainly on quantitative data. It has attempt to get empirically sound and statistically reliable data regarding the physical, sexual and psychological abuse against women. Qualitative methodology has been used to interpret and analyze the data collected.Review of LiteratureBehind Closed Doors by Rinki Bhattacharya is one of the few books which exploit with Domestic Violence against women in India. This book contains narratives by seventeen women who have been the victims of domestic violence. These women have hand overed immense courage in sharing their stories. These heart- wrenching narratives bring home the fact that domestic violence is still very prevalent and that no amount of privilege can protect women from abuse. A documentary moving-picture show called Char Diwari was make on this book. The fact that this documentary has been telecasted only twice and that too at midnight shows that such issues are still not brought out able in the public.This book also contains essays by eminent feminists and other sociologists who have tried to analyze the phenomenon of Domestic Violence. What they really try to say is that in a country like India, where people worship the female power of Shakti in the form of goddess, why should women be subjected to domestic violence?Then there are further essays which deal with the loopholes in the domestic violence bill. The book ends with a road map to support the victims of domestic violence. This book should definitely be learn by those who wish to bring about a change in d position of the women in the society.There is a case study on domestic violence against women in Nagpur. This Case Study has been conducted by International Clinical Epidemiologists Network (INCLEN). On the basis of the survey conducted, it was found out that just about sixty- two percent of the women have been subjected to some form of domestic violence. Most of these women have been the victims of psychological abuse (60.2 % as compared to 37.9 % of the women being subjected to physical abuse ). tenner percent of these women left their economises simply most of them had to return since their natal families refused to accept them. There is still a social stigma attached to leaving your husband and the root cause of this is the patriarchal ideologies which are still widespread today.Another Case Study deals with domestic violence in Kerala. This has been conducted by Centre for Womens Studies and Development, Kerala. some fifty five percent of the women admit being subjected to domestic violence. In Kerala most of the women have been victimized collectable to issues related to dowry. Like in Nagpur, psychological abuse is very high in Kerala. (54.23% as compared to 32.4% of thee women who are subjected to physical violence). In Kerala the lit eracy rate is almost 100 percent, yet women are victimized. What does this show? It again goes back to the patriarchal ideologies that have existed since time immemorial.Results and Interpretation of DataTable 1 Socio Demographic Profile nub40higher(prenominal) STRATA OF THE SOCIETY27LOWER STRATA OF THE SOCIETY13AGE (in years) fair sex RespondentHusband323633373135EDUCATIONWoman RespondentIlliteratePrimary ( 1-5 )Secondary ( 6-12 )12HusbandIlliteratePrimary ( 1-5)Secondary ( 6-12 )124672304828005220022546210463EMPLOYMENTWoman RespondentUnemployedEmployedHusbandUnemployedEmployed272363417100274967This table shows that literacy rate is lower among the woman respondents as compared to their husbands. The overall employment rate is higher among the husbands. However as far as the lower strata of the society is concerned, more women are employed than men.Now we come to the prevalence of domestic violence. initial the researcher will deal with the women of the higher strata of the societ y. 20 out of 27 women have admitted to being subjected to domestic violence by their husbands. Out of these 20 women, 12 have been physically abused, 5 psychologically and 3 sexually. As far as the women of the lower strata are concerned all the 13 of them have been subjected to domestic violence. Out of these women, 8 are physically abused, 3 psychologically and 2 sexually.Graph showing the prevalence of Domestic Violence.Table 2 will show the lifetime physical abuse and Table 3 will show the lifetime psychological abuse.Table 2 Lifetime Physical Abuse -TOTAL(20)HIGHER STRATA OF THE SOCIETY(12)LOWER STRATA OF THE SOCIETY(8)Slap1183Kick835Weapon110Table 3 Lifetime Psychological Abuse-TOTAL(8)HIGHER STRATA OF THE SOCIETY(5)LOWER STRATA OF THE SOCIETY(3)Insulted532Demeaned220Unfaithful101Now the researcher would like to draw your attention to the reasons as to why these women are subjected to domestic violence. Table 4 shows some of the reasons identified by these women.Table 4 Reason s as to why women are subjected to domestic violence-TOTAL33HIGHER STRATA OF THE SOCIETY20LOWER STRATA OF THE SOCIETY13Not Cooking Properly18135Not Looking after the kinfolk541Harassment due to Dowry431Talking to Other Men606It is evident from the survey that Domestic Violence is extremely prevalent especially in the lower strata of the society. There is an inverse relationship between socio economic status and domestic violence. Both Education and Employment is also significant for physical and psychological violence. It is seen that women with lower education but better employment than their husbands are subjected to great domestic violence. This is the case in the lower strata of the society. As far as the higher strata is concerned, it is generally the lesser educated and the unemployed women who are subjected to the wrath of their husbands. jural Measures for Domestic Violence against women In IndiaIn India not much has been done to protect the rights of women. Women have bee n the victims of domestic violence since time immemorial, but the Domestic Violence Act was passed by the parliament as late as 2005. It was passed in the furtherance of the recommendations of the United Nations committee on the CEDAW. The following abuses are covered by this act-Physical abuseSexual abuseVerbal and emotional abuseEconomic abuseThis act provides women a right to stay in her matrimonial house, even if she does not have ownership rights over the house. Basically a husband cannot throw his wife out of his house. However her rights will excrete only to her husbands properties and not to the properties of her in-laws.Under this act, a woman has the right to ask for help and protection. A victim of domestic abuse has the right to seek the help and services of police officers, protection homes, service providers, shelter homes and medical establishments. She also has the right to lodge a complaint under section 498 of the Indian punishable Code for matrimonial cruelty.Und er this act, a woman can get the following orders issued in her favour-Protection OrderResidence OrdersMonetary stand-inCustody OrdersCompensation OrdersInterim and Ex parte OrdersIf the respondent is found to be guilty, he can be imprisoned for a term which may slip away to one year or can be charged a fine which may extend to Rs 20,000 or both. He may also be asked to provide monetary relief to the victim and her children. In the latter situation, he has to pay compensation damages as well. He has to abide by the arrangements made by the court regarding the custody of the victims children.Drawbacks of the Legal MeasuresThe Act is mainly criticized on the grounds that it is not backed up properly. There is no effort by the government to implement it effectively. Important factors such as the appointment and the training of the protection officers, police officers, service providers, counselors, and judicial officers have been ignored. The authorities lack the enterprisingness to spread awareness. Moreover there is improper budgetary allocation. Most states have still not appointed the Protection Officers. In some states, where Protection Officers have been appointed, they are not aware of their duties and the legal remedies that are available to the victims of domestic violence. Another drawback is that that the act has not been publicized properly. The helpline numbers available to the victims have not been publicized properly. As a result, sometimes domestic violence goes unreported because the victim does not know whom to turn to for help. In some cases, the violence is reported, but no case is filed in the court. There is a big difference in the number of cases that are reported and the number of cases which are actually hear in the court. These are the drawbacks of the legal measures.Remedial MeasuresA crucial question in the light of the increasing instances of domestic violence is that what should be done to hold up and reduce it. As responsible ci tizens should we just sit and read articles and collect information about domestic violence or should we raise our voices against it?Today Domestic Violence is being viewed as an epidemic disease which needs to be controlled. Many Law agencies, Governmental and Non Governmental Organizations, public and private bodies are working(a) for this cause.We need more stringent laws to curb domestic violence. At present we do not have a single law in the Indian Constitution which effectively deals with the issue of Domestic Violence. Even section 498 A of the Indian Penal Code and The Domestic Violence Act, 2005 have been misused because of the certified definition of the abuse that women are subjected to. As a result we need more stringent laws to protect the rights of women.There are several NGOs which are actively working in issues relating to women abuse. These NGOs need to spread awareness among women regarding the legal remedies that are available to them. They should encourage more and more women to come forward and report instances of domestic violence so that necessary action can be interpreted against the culprit.The Police and the Protection Officers need to be sensitized. They need to take Domestic Violence as seriously as other offences. They need to be made aware of their legal duties and the remedies that are available to the victims. Moreover care has to be taken to appoint efficient men as Police and Protection Officers. Gender training should me made mandatory.Steps need to be taken to recognize Domestic Violence as a public health. Training needs to be provided so as to develop the skills of the professionals to provide the basic support to the victims of domestic violence. reenforcement on the health consequences of domestic violence should me made so as to spread awareness.Lastly the patriarchal mindset of the people has to be changed. Until and unless women are wedded due respect in the society, no amount of laws will be helpful. The root cau se of domestic violence is patriarchal ideologies and that needs to be changed. terminalThe study underlines that the situation of Indian women is quite severe in terms of the violence they experience in the marital home. Women are subject to frequent and seven-fold forms of violence in their lifetime. The main cause of this is the patriarchal mindset of the people. Men have always considered themselves to be the superior sex and have always tried to overpower women. Generally women do not raise their voices against men because they have been taught to believe that they are the inferior sex. In conclusion, it can be said that the hypothesis- The prevalence of Domestic Violence against women is an indication of patriarchal ideologies has been proved and a social reformation needs to be brought about soon.QuestionnaireThe women were asked the following questionsName geezerhoodHusbands AgeEducational QualificationEducational qualification of the husbandEmploymentHusbands occupationAny Physical Violence?Slapped by the husband?Kicked by the husband? apply or threatened to use a weapon?Any Sexual Violence?Any Psychological Violence?Insulted by the husband?Demeaned by the husband?Was the husband unfaithful?Reasons for the violence as identified by the woman.Not cooking properlyNot looking after the householdHarassment due to dowryTalking to other menThe limitation of this study is that in view of the social stigma attached to domestic violence, some women have been averse to answer these questions and as a result have not answered them truthfully.