Domestic Violence and Women’s Empowerment

Abstract

 Domestic violence is one of the most common crimes against women which are inextricably linked to the perpetuation of patriarchy. Domestic violence refers to violence against women not only in matrimonial homes but also in live-in relationship. Violence against women can be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional abuse or threat of physical and sexual violence. Physical violence includes acts of physical aggression such as slapping, hitting, kicking and beating. The common sexual abuses women endure are- forced intercourse and other forms of sexual coercion. Psychological abuse includes acts like intimidation, constant belittling, humiliating, nagging and various controlling behaviors such as- isolating a person from their family and friends, monitoring their movements, and restricting their access to information or assistance. When abuse occurs repeatedly in the same relationship, it reduces into an act of “battering” There is no one single factor to account for violence perpetrated against women. Increasingly, researches have focused on the inter-relatedness of various factors like numbers of family members, type of marriage, husband’s education, menstrual problems etc.  Many have pointed out that the marriage at a younger age makes women vulnerable to domestic violence. Domestic violence is recognized as the significant barrier in the path of women empowerment. India has specifically legislated Domestic Violence Act in 2005 to reduce the violence against women but the same has bore mixed result as of now. The paper examines the domestic violence against women and how it hampers the women empowerment.