Page 201 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 26: Family Problems: Violence in Families, Desertion and Divorce

Notes
8. In case you drive, do not leave the car doors unlocked. Before sitting in the care, check the
back seat.
9. When assaulted, do not shout ‘rape-rape’, instead say ‘Fire-Fire.’

What conclusion did the social scholars come to on studying rape?

Abduction and Kidnapping
Section 366 of the Indian penal code defines abduction as an act where a woman is taken away by
force, by deceit or lure; and compelled to marry. According to Section 361 of the Indian Penal Code,
abduction in an act where a minor (girl, less than 18 years and boy less than 21 years) is taken away
without the permission of his/her parents or legal guardians.) In an abduction case, the approved
of the abducted individual (boy or girl) holds no importance, though his/her approval pardons
the culprit.
In India, every year, approximately 1500 women are abducted or are kidnapped. In other words,
every day 42 cases of abducting or kidnapping of girls are reported. That is to say, in every one
lakh population, there are two cases of abduction or Kidnapping. The highest number of kid-
napping cases have been reported in Uttar Pradesh (3,099), followed by Rajasthan (2,018), Bihar
(1,219), Madhya Pradesh (1, 202) and Assam (1,010).

Amongst those who are abducted, 54.8% women are between the age of 18 to
30, 35.3% between the age of 30 to 50, 4.5% of less than 18 years of age and 5.4%
of above 50 years of age.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Ahuja on abduction and kidnapping we come to know
that— (i) Compared to married women, unmarried girls are abducted more. (ii) The abduc-
tor and the abducted (women or girl), both are acquaintances. (iii) Because of their families
or neighborhood, they get acquainted to each-other. (iv) Mostly, only one individual con-
spires abduction. (v) The main motive for abduction is sodomy and marriage. In 1/10 cases,
it is also done for a financial motive. (vi) The major reasons for abduction are lack of paren-
tal authority, lack of warm family ties, etc. (vii) In approximately 80% of the cases, the girl is
sexually assaulted.

Murder

Both men and women fall prey to murder, but all over the world, its the men who are the big-
gest victims, compared to women. In America, of the total number of murder cases reported
annually, 20 to 25% are reportedly females while in India, its only 10%. In India, 96.7% male and
3.34% female murders are reported.

Wife Battering: Domestic Violence

In India, woman as a wife had a particular status. She has been referred to as ‘Grihalakshmi.’
Woman is also known as ‘Ardhangini’, ‘Sah-dharmacharini’ and ‘Dharmapatni’. In the absence
of a wife, the religious rituals performed by man only, are considered incomplete. But this is just

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