Domestic Abuse
Unfortunately, due to the benign tendencies of most of the world, domestic abuse towards women is an ever-present issue, specifically in India. In the sexist society of India, women have both social expectations and fiscal dependencies that keep them inferior to men, both culturally and politically. Only one percent of married Indian woman have ever violently violated their husbands, but about two out of every five married Indian women have been subject to abuse by their husbands. One out of every three women from the ages of 15 to 49 have suffered domestic abuse. Though that statistic is startling enough, it is hard to determine the true number of cases of domestic violence simply because not all women report the abuse; with that, that shocking number could be actually even higher. Additionally, judicial laziness fail to bring justice and or security to women who live in fear of abuse. The most cultural norms trigger violence to women; for instance, the custom of dowries leads to abuse of the bride by the groom’s family if the bride’s family does not give the dowry to the liking of the groom. Furthermore, women themselves often keep the events of mistreatment to themselves; only one in four abused women in India have gotten help to end abuse. Also, 54 percent of Indian women said that, in certain situations, abuse from their husbands was acceptable. Sadly, this justification of abuse is a huge step in the wrong direction; defending such acts of violence can only lead to more abuse and less gender equality.
INDIA STATISTICS
-56,000 maternal deaths in 2010
-44.5% of girls married before 18
-52% of women in India think it's justifiable for a man to beat his wife
-56,000 maternal deaths in 2010
-44.5% of girls married before 18
-52% of women in India think it's justifiable for a man to beat his wife
Fortunately, there are a number of fascinating statistics and empowering legislations that enlighten a solution to such abuse. The Justice Verma Committee, created by the Indian government, strives to reduce abuse towards women, leading to the Criminal Law Act of 2013. 49 percent of women from poor families have experienced abuse, while only 18 percent of women from wealthier families have experienced abuse. Couples that have undergone the same level of education show less abuse (23 percent) compared to couples where the husband has received more education than the female (36 percent). This exemplifies that wealth and education (which leads to more wealth) will empower, protect, and instruct future generations of Indian women. More so, women with mothers who were abused by their fathers are twice as likely to be abused; this specifies a specific group of women who can be deliberately educated and supported so as to break the cycle of abuse. Overall, the percentage of women exposed to domestic abuse in India is inexcusably high and generally culturally accepted, making change hard to come by. However, as more and more women become educated and vocal, the change will eventually come.