DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A HIDDEN PROBLEM
Keywords:
Domestic violence, Matrilineal societyAbstract
Domestic violence has presently drawn maximum attention in our country where male dominated society is predominant. However women undergo as much agony in the dominantly matrilineal tribal societies in Meghalaya, as their counterpart in the rest of the country. Majority of the victims were in the age group of 20 to 30 years. Tribals constitute 69.23 % of the cases; more in rural areas. The perpetrators were mostly the husbands. 61.54% of the perpetrators were alcoholics. The commonest assault was physical abuse. Socio-cultural factors associated with such violence need to be addressed to prevent such crimes.
References
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Govt of India; fact sheet: National Family Health Survey – III, 2005 - 06.
Fagot BI, Loeber R and Reid J B. Development Determinants of male to female aggression. In. G.W. Russel (ed), violence in intimate relationships. PMA publishing Corp; 1998. 91- 105.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
Kaur R and Garg S. Addressing Domestic Violence Against Women: An unfinished agenda. 1) Indian J Community Med 2008 April; 33(2):73– 76.
Koenig M A, Lutalo T, Zhao F, Nalugoda F, Mangen F W, Kiwanuka N, Wagman J, Serwadda D, Wawer M, & Gray R. Domestic violence in rural Uganda: Evidence from a community-based study. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2003; 81 (1) 53 to 60.
Sarkar M. A study of domestic violence against adult and adolescent females in a rural area of West Bengal. Indian J Community Med. 2010 April; 35 (2): 311– 315.
Vachher AS and Sharma AK. Domestic Violence against women and their mental health status in a colony in Delhi. Indian J Community Med. 2010; 35 (3): 403 – 405.
Mitra S. Domestic violence along with its sociocultural determinants among pregnant women attending MCH clinic of a Subdivisional hospital in West Bengal. Indian J Community Med. 2006; 31 (4): 10 – 12.
Leonard KE and Blane HT. Alcohol and Marital Aggression in a National Sample of Young men. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.1992; 7(1): 19-30.
McKenry PC, Julian TW and Gavazzi SM. Towards a Biopsychosocial Model of Domestic Violence. Journal of Marriage and the Family. 1995; 57: 307- 20.
Rao V. Wife – beating in Rural South India: A Qualitative and Econometric Analysis. Social Science and Medicine.1997; 44(8): 1169-80.
