Domestic Violence

Violence in the Family

Have you ever heard reports of brides being tortured to death due to dowry? Elder people killed due to property disputes? Young children succumbing to injuries after beaten by the father? If you answered yes, which surely you have, these are all reports of Domestic Violence. These reports can be found every single day in news reports across the country. Apart from what we read, more than 90% of these cases go unreported. Violence in bursting in our society and is present everywhere behind the doors of our homes. Domestic violence occurs across all socio economic statuses, social classes, genders, racial lines and age groups.

Domestic Violence is the violence directed towards someone a person is in a relationship with, a wife, husband, son, daughter, mother, father, grandparents or any other family member. Anyone can be a victim or a victimizer. Domestic violence has been an intrinsic part of our society.

Domestic violence is most common against women in our society due to the orthodox mindset of the society that women are physically and emotionally weaker than men. According to UN report, more than two thirds of the married women in India are victims of domestic violence and more than 70% of women are victims of rape, beating and forced intercourse. It has been reported that more than 55%women are victims of domestic violence in India.

Domestic violence is increasingly seen among men too which may sound surprising. The supremacy of men in our society makes it hard to believe that they are not vulnerable to violence. Although the prevalence of assault against men is lesser in India as compared to western countries, it still exists in the form of pushing; shoving, slapping, grabbing and hitting intended to harm them.

Domestic Violence against children is second in terms of cases reported after violence against women. Children are targets of violence due to disobeying parental advice, poor academic performance, debating, arguing and shouting, abusing, swearing, etc. Domestic violence against girls is also more common, mostly due to being born in the home as a girl child through forms of cursing and assaulting.

Domestic violence against the elderly is mostly subjected to by their children and other family members. This is mostly unreported in India due to the dependency of the elderly on their children and the fear of being abandoned and look being looked after. Majorly this occurs due to the fact that children may be hesitant to bear the expenses of the elderly, emotional victimization of the old and intention to get rid of them. One of the common causes is torture for reasons of property disputes.

There are various consequences of domestic violence and this depends of the victim’s age, gender, intensity of violence and the severity of torment. Victims may live under constant fear, humiliation and threat. Psychological trauma and emotional disturbance occurs among victims and causes disruption in normal functioning. The victim may become silent, reserved and fearful to express feelings. Depression and anxiety may create long term consequences.

Domestic violence may have a larger and deeper impact in real life and it is important to spread awareness against domestic violence and see the association of factors provoking it and control it in order to prevent it from occurring.