Let's try 2 find the cause of oppressed women or 2 be more precise lets focus on the most prevalent yet relatively hidden and ignored form of violence against women and girls.It's called 'DOMESTIC VIOLENCE'.The term domestic includes violence by an intimate partner or by some family member irrespective of the plce and time and in what form.Lets take a peep into the ugly yet largely ignored world of Domestic violence.Lets take a look behind those closed doors where women suffer wid sheer silence.Violence or abuse of this nature is experienced by countless women in all strata of society Behind those closed doors of so called family tradition,customs,value,status that r taken for granted and never questioned are muffled voices of terror and trauma which do not reach beyond the threshold nor the redress agents.Gender crimes r not recent phenomena.Crime against women have been committed since antiquity.Violence gainst wives,is the central concern which cuts acroos all socities,economic and age group.To be assaulted by as intimate as a husband or a lover or by family member is the most degrading experience for a women.
Women and children r often in great danger where they should be the safest within their own families.For many a home is a place where they see or sufffer the most vulnerable attrocities or face a regime of terror and violence in the hands of society or someone close 2 them,someone they should trust.Those victims suffer emotionally,physically a lot.Prejudice towards women is sawn deep in our Indian culture.They are unable 2 make their own decision,voice their opinions or protect themselves and their children for fear of further repercussions.Their human rights r denied and their life is stolen by the ever present threat of violene.Violence against women and girls continues to be global epidemic that kills,tortures and maims physically,emotionally,sexually and economically.There r many ways in which a women is made 2 suffer.Even if v agree tat biologically women r the superior sex it vil not help to elevate their social status.It is one of the crimes against women which is linked to their disadvantageous position in their society.Fear shame,silence and suffering are the common feelings a women bears in abundance in this society that apparently venerates her as 'SHAKTI-THE ENERGISING PRINCIPLE OF SOCIETY' and thinks nothing of her before burning her for dowry or selling a young girl in the marriage bazzar.Wife beating is a complex issue or problem that involves much more than the act itself or the personal interaction between husband and wife.The roots of domestic violence lies deeply in historical attitude towards women and the institution of marriage.
In Indian families a man enjoys absolute autority power and privileges which makes him undisputedly head of family or the heart of the family.Our Indian society is gender biased Even our Indian law dictates or assumes a father to be the legal gurdian even though he abuses his wife or child,there is no change in his positon of annadatta.During marriage a wife is called ardhangini or better half of the husband but in contradiction to this she is treated vast then an animal and sometimes beaten up mercilessly.She is believed to work like a maid,fulfill all her duties in bed and that of carry a child where a compulsion on her head to bear a male child.If at all she gives birth to female child she is illtreated and tortured all her life.They r thoughtto be a plant of neighbours courtyard.female child is a kind of nightmare for some as they think it as a burden on them to go through the tedious custom of dowry.Female child becomes a reason of disaster to the father.
A son is thought upon as carrying forward the families name and regarded as a asset for the parents in their old age,Only a son has all rights and duties 2 be performed during funerals.This kind of religion brings again a kind of dominance on individual's sex and determine family goals.There r many aspects,certain blind faiths and myths tat hamper the very excistence of weomanhood.For eg:
1.Girls in chinese tradition r bound for foot binding.
2.Girls in africa folow barbaric custom of genital mutilation.
3.During Taliban rule women in afghan were kept in house arrest.
4.A brutal manifestation of gender crimes peculiar to India is the burning of brides/Wives.
Since ages this atrocities r cited upon women and made them vulnerable.When vill women stand up for her rights and identity?Its high time now women should voice their problems and get herself justice.Dont know wen?This question keeps ringing in ma ears and ma heart aches 2 see this vulnerable state of women who has many faces like MA DURGA,MA CHANDI,MA KALI.
very good initiative bhavisha........keep writing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nidhi.....i m happy u liked ma try.
ReplyDeleteHi Bhavi,
ReplyDeleteSuper writing.
What I suggest is : you join the 'Fight Domestic Violence' cause on FB while collecting feedbacks from FB users, keep posting ur thoughts. Like minded pple will definitely give their opinions.
My initial thoughts: The violence need not be physical always. Most of the so called 'MCP's' in our society use startegic abusive tactics like verbal & emotional abuse. Tactics of intimidation, isolation & use of economic conditions & children against women are very common. There shud b something like 'community policing to reduce domestic violence of any form against women.
I will write to in a few days time as I need to go for a meeting now.... but keep up the good work.
Saulin masa