DOMESTIC ABUSE
Author: B.A.Pratheshta
INTRODUCTION:
Abuses may not always come from an unknown or a third person. Abuses from our close intimate partner are the most traumatic situation. Such kind of abuse may be described as domestic abuse. According to United Nations, “Domestic abuse also known as "domestic violence" or "intimate partner violence", involve an abusive behavior of overpowering the other person or wanting the partner or any close relationship partner to be under the control of that person. Abuses may be of different forms. It can be bodily, sexual, emotive, financial, or mental actions or intimidations that impact another person. The abusive behavior also includes any act that terrifies, threaten,deploy, degrade, culpability and even harmor hurt. Domestic abuse can occur in any intimate relationship regardless of their gender orthe validity of their relationship. Domestic violence is witnessed in almost every part of society. [1]
CAUSES OF DOMESTIC ABUSE:
The most common victims of domestic abuse are women and children, and in most of the cases the abusers are men. This doesn’t mean that only men are the abusers and only women are the victims. Domestic abuse is often triggered forthe want of power and control of another person. In most common cases of domestic abuse, the violence starts when one companionwants the need to control the other spouse in any form, it is suggestively further probable that the relationship between the couple may turn violent.
Research has revealed that individuals with offensive propensities commonly go forceful when they go beyond their control. There are so many causes in which domestic abuse can happen. A few of the common causes include the following:
Traumatic childhood experiences can be a cause of domestic violence. It is likely an abuser may have undergone any domestic violence or seen any kind of abuse through their childhood and may have perceived that only violence can uphold control within a domestic.
Major lifedeviations can also be the cause of domestic abuse. An augmented menace of domestic abuse can happen through a substantial modification inlife, such as during pregnancy or when a family member is sick, or when there is loss of a family member. The committer or the abuser might feel abandoned or lonely. As a result, the abuser finds reasons to take control in these situations.
Similar psychological transmission of aggression is likely to happen when a person faces financial difficulties. Situations like when a person loses his job, housing foreclosures, or debt can upsurgetensions at household, which ultimately leads to violence.
Economic complications can also edge possibilities for survivors to seek protection or escape.
Insecurity can also be the cause of domestic abuse. Many a time, a person who feels insecure about any situation can take up violence as a shield to drive away themselves from that insecurity.
Intoxication can be one of the major reasons for domestic violence. Alcohol consumption can affect a person both physically and psychologically. The element of alcohol abuse and disruptive behavior often arise together and has a controlled speculation of common heritable bases, but the evidence is still questionable.[2]
EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
Domestic violence in the household not only affects the victim but also the witnessing children and family members. Therefore, they become the secondary victims of domestic abuse. In most instances, children witnessing domestic violence at home are more violent and aggressive. This reflects when they grow as an independent individual. Apart from the children, it also affects all the family members psychologically. [3]
The victim is the most vulnerable person to domestic violence. The victims undergo so many effects mentally, emotionally, and physically. Most common mental effects of domestic abuse may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, loss of self- confidence and, also suicidal thoughts or attempts. In India, most women suicide cases are reported due to domestic violence.[4]
ANALYSIS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN INDIA:
As per the reports of the UN Development Program, “In India, approximately 70% of the wedded women between the age of 15 to 49 years are being confronted to “rape, beating, and verbal abuse.” In a data collection of a year, more than 400 pregnant women got aborted. Not only abortion many girl infants are killed through ingeniously brutal behaviors like daubing opium, pre-emptive steering of the umbilical cord, sinking in milk, nursing wet paddy or salt, and also millions of girl infants go missing.
In 2005, the reports ofthe Indian National Crime Bureau state that about 6787 dowry death cases were registered in India.The cases of dowry deaths have significantly increased over years to nearly 46% from the year 1986. A shocking statistic of the National Crime Report of 1991 revealed that a woman is abused by her husbandonce in every 33 minutes. The most common abuse faced by the women are physical and sexual abuse. Nearly 35% of women face sexual abuse and around 15% of the women face physical abuse. These statistics give an alarming warning to the government and other public agencies to take immediate action towards preventing domestic abuse in the country.
CONCLUSION:
It is evident, that over the last few years, a multitude of topics associated to with women is debated on several stages. One of the significant topics of discussion is about domestic violence. Though the concept of gender equality is increasingly coming into practice still domestic violence and dominance over women haven’t reduced yet. Laws on the paper to protect women are insufficient, proper implementation of laws are required to stop such kind violence in the household.
REFERENCES:
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https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/domestic-violence/about/effects-of-dv
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[1]WHAT IS DOMESTIC ABUSE, https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse, (last visited May 29,2021). [2]THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS, Understanding Violence Against Women (The National Academies Press, 1996). [3] MARGOLIN, G. (1998). Effects of domestic violence on children, In P. K. Trickett & C. J. Schellenbach (Eds.), Violence against children in the family and the community (p. 57–101), American Psychological Association, https://doi.org/10.1037/10292-003. [4]Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia, "Domestic violence", Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2021, (May 29, 2021), https://www.britannica.com/topic/domestic-violence.