Domestic violence/Domestic abuse/battering/Family violence/Silent crime
A pattern of behavior that involves violence or other abuse by one person against another in a domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation. Violence within the home is widespread and affects women throughout society. The perpetrators are close relatives of the women – father, husband, and his family, sometimes even the son. It can take several forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, and sexual abuse.
| Physical abuse | Hitting, slapping, kicking, punching, scratching, biting, pushing, throwing, grabbing, choking, hair-pulling, use a weapon (gun, knife, or other objects) to cause injury. |
| Mental abuse | Threats, dictating what a woman can do and cannot do, verbally abusing, humiliating to women or her parents, not allowing women to leave the house or visit outside or natal house. |
| Sexual abuse | Rape, unwanted touching, forced sexual acts, refusal to practice safe sex. |
| Economic or property abuse | Stealing or destroying personal belonging, demanding money, not allowing women to work. |
Some common beliefs and myths about domestic violence (DV)
- DV is rare – only some experience it.
- DV is a private matter – the community should not get involved.
- DV victims must remain silent and maintain family honor.
- DV victims do not want to break out of abuse.
- DV abusers are alcoholics and drug addicts.
Harassment at workplace
It is a threatening behavior directed at an individual worker or a group of workers. It is a form of sex discrimination that occurs in the workplace.
Unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is served or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment.
Eve-teasing
Teasing a girl or woman. It refers to public sexual harassment or street harassment of a girl or woman by a boy. Eve-teasing has now become a common affair in our society. School or college-going girls are the main victims of eve-teasing.
Dowry related violence
Any act of violence or harassment associated with the giving or receiving of dowry at any time before, during, or after the marriage. It is a serious problem that affects the lives of women and girls.
One woman dies every hour in India because of dowry-related crimes.
In 2015, Jan to June:-due to dowry
38 – Women physically tortured
91 – Women tortured to death
4 – Committed suicide
73 – Cases filed.
Female feticide/Pre-birth elimination of females (PBEF)
Aborting a female fetus after sex determination test. Ultra-sonography and foetoscopy help determine abnormalities in the fetus but it is misused to find out the sex of the fetus and abortion is done if it is a girl.
Causes
- Obsession for son (son is gold and daughter means worry – a myth leads to PBEF)
- Fear of dowry by many poor class families
- Girls are considered as a financial obligation by many parents
- Some of the doctors do his heinous act to fulfill their money desires.
Consequences
- The decreased population of females
- Adverse effects on women’s health physically, emotionally, mentally.
- Women’s are abused and sexually exploited
- This leads to women trafficking
- The suicide rate in women will increase.
Sexual violence
- Forcing someone to have sex after being hurt either physically or emotionally.
- Forcing into prostitution
- Forcing someone to have sexual relations with other people.
- Forcing someone to participate in any sexual act in which you are not comfortable.
- Forcing someone to look, act or pose for pornography.
It can happen anywhere – on streets, at home, in public or private places – by strangers or by members of the family.
- Sexual violence against women is
Sexual assault
Sexual harassment
Rape
Marital abuse
Myths
- Sexual violence only affects a small number of women.
- Women make sexual assault allegations out of spite to take revenge.
- Women invite sexual assault by the way they dress and behave.
- A woman means “yes” when they say “no”.
