YeSS-eStories

Violence is an act carried out with the intention or perceived intention of physically hurting another person. Gender violence is defined as “any act involving the use of force or coercion with the intent of perpetuating promoting hierarchical gender relations” (APWLD, 1990, Schuler, 1992). Violence against women is partly a result of gender relations that assumes men to be superior to women. Given the subordinate status of women, much of gender violence is considered normal and enjoys social sanction.

The family socializes its members to accept hierarchical relations expressed in unequal division of labour between the sexes and power over the allocation of resources. The family and its operational unit is where the child is exposed to gender differences since birth, and in recent times even before birth, in the form of sex-determination tests leading to foeticide and female infanticide. Women and children are often in great danger in the place where they should be safest: within their families. For many, ‘home’ is where they face a regime of terror and violence at the hands of somebody close to them – somebody they should be able to trust. Those victimized suffer physically and psychologically. They are unable to make their own decisions, voice their own opinions or protect themselves and their children for fear of further repercussions. Their human rights are denied and their lives are stolen from them by the ever-present threat of violence. Cultural and social factors are interlinked with the development and propagation of violent behaviour. With different processes of socialization that men and women undergo, men take up stereotyped gender roles of domination and control, whereas women take up that of submission, dependence and respect for authority. A female child grows up with a constant sense of being weak and in need of protection, whether physical, social or economic. This helplessness has led to her exploitation at almost every stage of life.

Domestic Violence is a common name since time immemorial. It includes not only inter-spousal violence, but also violence perpetrated by other family members. Generally, an important part of the power relationship between spouses and their families relates to dowry and its ramifications. Domestic violence is the establishment of control and fear in the relationship through violence and other forms of abuse. It is basically an abuse of power. There is a wide societal tolerance for wife-abuse, which is very often even considered justifiable under certain circumstance: Disputes over dowries, a wife’s sexual infidelities, her neglect of household duties, and her disobedience of her husband’s dictates are all considered legitimate causes for wife-beating. Many families identify very well with this name but unfortunately do not show any shame or guilt in their emotionless faces.

Women and girls suffer disproportionately from violence - both in peace and in war, at the hands of the state, the community and the family. From the home to the conflict zone, violence against women must stop for life without violence is a basic human right. Unfortunately family is the first window to violence. Lack of knowledge, awareness and courage lead women one step forward to a more vulnerable condition, where the “unsensitized” “male-stream” society seems to be waiting hungrily with its mouth wide open.

Campaigns and conferences, held here and there, are always very vocal about protests against the socio-economic exploitation of the fairer sex. However, in spite of all this, complaints regarding domestic violence are galore at the police stations.

Thus question arises if these drives and conferences have any positive effect on the city’s age-old chauvinistic outlook? Or, are these campaigns merely an eyewash?

Women themselves are the answers of their own questions for its high time the women raise their voices against all evils in the society. Until and unless they learn to step forward nothing can help them come out from the age old "subjugation". They themselves are the way out. So ITS TIME TO SPEAK OUT!!!

Let us today join hands and protest against violence of women, with the aim to ensure the realization of women's dignity and rights to freedom from gender-based violence by strengthening civil society and empowering communities, by building their capacity, making allies with stakeholders and advocating for women's rights at all levels.