Author-Lipi Saini, a Student of National Forensic Science University, Delhi
Introduction
Any sort of violence or abuse that occurs within a household, such as in a marriage or cohabitation, is known as domestic violence. Domestic Violence is also known as domestic abuse or family violence. Domestic violence is a significant problem and one of the acute topics of today’s society. It affects people of all genders and sexualities. Domestic Violence is a pervasive yet concealed topic, it includes physical, emotional, and psychological harm to millions of individuals worldwide. It is a case of any common household regardless of age, gender, race, or social status. Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, or sexual assault. From subtle persuasion to marital rape and other forms of violent physical assault, it can take various forms. Stoning, bride burning, honor killing, and dowry death are all examples of domestic homicide.
This essay aims to explore the complexities of domestic violence, examining the root cause and discussing the ways to prevent domestic violence. Domestic Violence is not only limited to women but also to men. In rare cases, men are victims of domestic violence.
Understanding Domestic Violence
Domestic violence encompasses a spectrum of abusive behaviors, including physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse perpetrated by one partner against another within an intimate relationship. An individual’s behavior creates a fear of intimidation and fears that traps victims in a cycle of abuse.
Types of Domestic Violence
According to a report by UN Women, verbal abuse is the most common kind (50%), followed by sexual harassment (40%), physical abuse (36%), etc.
According to UN women’s report 7 out of 10 women polled felt that violence is frequent in their neighbourhood.
Work Cited
“COVID-19 and violence against women: What the data tells us.” UN Women, 24 November 2021, https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2021/11/covid-19-and-violence-against-women-what-the-data-tells-us. Accessed 6 June 2024.
Physical Abuse
Domestic violence through physical abuse is the most common and recognized form of domestic violence. It involves physical hurt being caused to the victim. Physical Violence asserts control and domination of another individual. Other abusive behaviors, such as threats, intimidation, and restrictions on victim self-determination through isolation, manipulation, and other limitations of personal freedom can lead to physical violence. Physical abuse can include denial of medical care, sleep deprivation, not giving proper meals, and forced use of alcohol or drug usage. Common types of physical abuse include punching, choking, hitting, slapping, burning a body part, etc.
Emotional or Psychological abuse
Abuse need not only be physical but also emotional or psychological. Emotional or psychological abuse has the least recognition in society, especially when mental health is given the least priority worldwide. Even in this modern time, mental health is not given priority, and don’t consider it a crucial part of the overall well-being of the human body. Victims often believe their spouse has complete control over them, which has a significant impact on the power dynamic in a relationship, elevating the perpetrator while disempowering the victim. Victims frequently suffer from depression, which puts them at risk for eating disorders, suicide, and drug and alcohol misuse. Because there is no physical proof of this kind of abuse, people do not consider this type of domestic violence worthy of attention.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is any sexual act, the effort to obtain a sexual act, passing sexual comments, or approaching sexually, Commenting on an individual’s sexuality such as making fun and commenting on the LGBTO+ community. Inspection for virginity is also a method of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse happens when a person is verbally forced into consenting when they are unable to understand the nature or condition of the act, when they are unable to deny participation, or when they are unable to articulate their refusal to engage in the sexual act. This could be due to immaturity, illness, disability, or being under the influence of alcohol or other substances, or it could be due to intimidation or pressure. Forcibly having sexual intercourse with one’s spouse without their consent is marital rape. However, marital rape is not a criminal act almost throughout the world including India. This is because women are considered the husband’s property after marriage with no personal and sexual autonomy and dignity. Currently, the Supreme Court of India is hearing petitions to criminalize marital rape.
Financial Abuse
Economic abuse or monetary abuse is a form of abuse where one spouse manipulates the other partner to obtain access to latters economic resources. Economic abuse may include abstaining the spouse from monetary resources and exploiting the monetary acts of the victim. Further, this reduces access to education, employment, career development, and asset acquisition. The victim can be put on an allowance, for close monitoring of how much money is spent, stopping spending without the abuser’s consent, etc. In marriages where the victim is completely financially dependent on their spouse, the problem gets aggravated as the victim has no option but to suffer.
A study on types of domestic violence in the European Union showed the following results:
Reason Behind Domestic Violence in India
Domestic violence in India, like in many other parts of the world, stems from a complex interplay of socio-cultural, economic, and psychological factors. Here are some key reasons behind domestic violence in India:
- Patriarchal norms: Traditional gender roles and patriarchal attitudes often place men in positions of power and control within families. Men in Indian society portray dominance over women which makes women vulnerable to the dominant society.
- Lack of gender equality: Despite progress, there are still significant disparities between men and women in India, including access to education, employment opportunities, and decision-making power. Women are considered less important and capable than men. It’s easy the Indian society to get women married and force them into house chores. These inequalities can contribute to a sense of entitlement among men and feelings of powerlessness among women, leading to violence.
- Religion: Religion plays a massive role in influencing domestic violence. People find solace in their religion. Victims of domestic violence in marriages are made to believe that they should suffer in silence rather than risk the “wrath of God” by choosing to leave that marriage. Abusers may exploit religious texts and principles to cause harm to the victim. This can be accomplished by using religious scriptures selectively or interpreting religious ideals to assert masculine entitlement and privilege or otherwise justify the abuse.
- Economic stress: Financial strain and unemployment can exacerbate tensions within families and increase the likelihood of violence. In many cases, the economic dependence of women on their spouses can make them more vulnerable to abuse. Women in India are discouraged to study and go to work outside the house, which makes them feel helpless.
- Social stigma and silence: Societal norms often discourage victims from speaking out about domestic violence due to fear of shame, blame, or retaliation. This silence perpetuates the cycle of abuse and allows it to continue unchecked.
- Cultural acceptance of violence: In some communities, violence within the family may be normalized or accepted as a private matter. This cultural acceptance can prevent victims from seeking help and perpetrators from facing consequences for their actions.
To effectively tackle domestic violence, a holistic strategy is necessary, encompassing legal revisions, educational initiatives fostering gender parity and peaceful conflict resolution, economic empowerment projects targeting women, and endeavors to confront detrimental cultural beliefs and stereotypes.
Forced relation and child marriage
A forced marriage occurs when one or both partners are married without their permission or consent. In many cultures (especially in South Asia, the Middle East, and some parts of Africa), marriages are prearranged, as soon as the girl is born. The idea of a girl choosing her future husband is socially unacceptable in a country like India. Domestic violence is often related to forced marriages and child marriages. These weddings are associated with violence, both spousal violence within the marriage and violence associated with the customs and traditions of these marriages: violence and trafficking related to the payment of dowry and bride price, and honor killings for refusing to marry.
COVID-19 and its effects on domestic violence
COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown brought in new challenges which highlighted the increased cases of domestic violence. A report by UN Women, an organization dedicated to gender equality gave the following data-
- Although the figures vary by country and population, the pandemic has increased women’s experiences of violence and damaged their emotions of safety.
- During the pandemic, violence against women has had a substantial influence on women’s mental health.
- Women’s experiences of violence are heavily influenced by socioeconomic variables.
- When it comes to violence against women, age is no barrier.
The pandemic and subsequent lockdown isolated and extracted a huge emotional and psychological toll on everyone. Many women lost their jobs during the pandemic, further making them dependent on their abusive spouses. The stress of jobs itself triggered instances of abusive behavior.
Works Cited
Wikipedia, https://data.unwomen.org/publications/vaw-rga. Accessed 6 June 2024.
“COVID-19 and violence against women: What the data tells us.” UN Women, 24 November 2021, https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2021/11/covid-19-and-violence-against-women-what-the-data-tells-us. Accessed 6 June 2024.
Effects of domestic violence
After surviving physical, mental, and emotional abuse, survivors of domestic violence may endure long-term and difficult consequences. It might take a long time for a survivor to adjust to living in a safe environment, especially if the perpetrator was extremely violent and/or committed the crimes over a long period. Victims might slip into depression, suffer anxiety or panic attacks may even try to commit suicide.
Health Issues
Apart from physical injury, other physical effects of domestic violence include chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle tension, involuntary shaking, changes in eating and sleeping patterns, sexual dysfunction, and menstrual cycle and fertility issues (in women). Mental effects of domestic violence include post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD which includes severe anxiety, nightmares, depression, uncontrollable thoughts, etc.
Emotional Effects
Common emotional and spiritual effects of domestic violence include hopelessness, feeling unworthy, apprehensive and discouraged about the future, inability to trust, lack of motivation, etc.
Financial Issues
Because of the victim’s economic abuse and isolation, they usually have very little money and few people to turn to for aid. This is one of the most difficult challenges for domestic violence victims to overcome, as well as the most powerful element that can deter them from leaving their abusers.
Legislation on Domestic Violence
Concerning cure, legislation aids. Legislations that provide relief to victims of domestic violence are found throughout the world. In India, the primary law on domestic violence is the Protection of Women against Domestic Violence Act, of 2005. An aggrieved woman can seek relief under this act. Some important features of this Act are:
Definition of domestic violence: This Act defines, in Section 3, domestic violence in an extensive manner and includes physical, verbal or emotional, sexual, and economic abuse. Consequently, it provides redress for all the various types of abuses and is cognizant of the fact that domestic violence is not always limited to physical violence.
Redressal mechanisms
How to report
Domestic violence may be reported in the following ways-
- Seeking support and help from NGOs who will be able to guide the victim in legal recourse as well.
- At the police station. One can dial 100 or the NCW helpline (011 2694 4805).
- A Protection Officer (PO) in the victim’s area can also be approached.
Helpline Numbers
- Police – 100
- Women’s helpline number – 181 or 1091
- Domestic violence helpline number by the National Commission For Women – +91 7217735372
- Single emergency helpline number for immediate assistance to services such as the police and women’s helpline – 112
- The emergency number for transgender and men who have sex with men (MSM) community – 1800-2000-113
Conclusion
Domestic violence is of four types- physical, emotional, financial and sexual. Domestic violence can be caused by intergenerational violence, socio-economic issues, biological and psychological issues, and other social issues. While women are the biggest sufferers of domestic violence, there can be various unique challenges that can come up with regards to the elderly population, the LGBTQ+ community and men. It is impossible to stop domestic violence at all points. But some awareness could be spread to report cases of domestic violence to the police.hus, steps must be taken not only to combat domestic violence against not only women but every sufferer of the same, regardless of their gender and sexuality.
