Page 202 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship

Notes one part of the picture. There have been cases where wives have been tortured and harassed.
After marriage a husband is expected to support, love and provide security to his wife. In India
the husband has been referred to as ‘Bharta’, which means the one who supports. Generally, It is
believed that home is heaven for a woman where she enjoys security and happiness. But many
women have to face domestic violence. They are kiched, boxed, slapped and beaten with wood.
Even their bones are fractured. Pahal, in his studies found that men stabbed their wives with
knives, hit them with furniture, pushed them off the stairs and nailed on their feet.
Until the 19th century, there was no law in England, which prevented man from abusing,
Physically hurting or killing his wife, but today, woman has a lot of legal security. Legally,
though women are in a good state today, yet they do not report the cases of domestic violence
against them. They do not file a police complain or go to the court. In such cases, the attitude of
the police is also unhelpful. They do not take any action, believing, that such cases are personal
and related to the husband and wife. Even the police help is sought their interference is limited
to receiving the quarrel. They are not keen on pressurising the husband or making allegations
against him.
Despite facing violence, a helpless women has no choice but to meekly accept the situation be-
cause of financial and social reasons, her duties towards her children and to avoid social stigma.
She accepts it as her fate; as a result of her sins during the past life. The society too, advices her
to be tolerant. To her, it is said, ‘You came to your husband’s home in a palaquin, now your cof-
fin only will leave this home. Thus, the helpless woman has no option but to bear the brunt of
violence and stay put.
In his studies, Dr. Ahuja found—(1) Women, of less than 25 years of age are the main victims
of beating. (2) Such incidents occur in families of low-income group. (3) The reasons for wife
beating include non-adjustment in sexual relations, emotional imbalance, husband’s egotism
or inferiority complex, alcoholism, jealousy and woman’s inaction against husband’s violent
behaviour. (4) Compared to educated women, the uneducated ones are the biggest victims. (5)
Those wives who are greater than five year of age with their husband, there is more possibility
of beaten by thier husband. (6) The wives who the size of the family and its structure has no
co-relation with wife beating. (7) Those who were themselves victims of violence during their
childhood, are more keen on domestic violence like wife beating, when they grow up. (8) Alco-
holic husbands are likely to beat their wives more, because of being in an inebriated state.

Violence against Widows
In India, specially amongst the Hinus, widows face a grave problem because marriage is con-
sidered a religious ritual and a bond, which cannot be broken in life. Thus, a woman is not
allowed to remarry after her husband’s death. Because of this, after the death of husband, the
widows miseries start. Her head is tonsured and she is not allowed to wear good clothes. Her
presence is considered a bad Omen during festivals and auspicious functions. Her parents-in-
law and other members of the husband’s family harass the widow, term her as ‘Dayan’ (Witch)
who sniffed out her husband’s life. Widows may be of various kinds-like, a childless young
widow, a middle-aged widow with one or two children and aged widows. Mostly, it is the
young and the middle-aged widows who suffer the most. The aged widow becomes a part
of her children’s/son’s family. She is considered useful in taking care of the grand children,
cooking, helping in household chores and providing guidance. The problems faced by young
and middle-aged widows are grave. They are harassed in many ways. They are beaten, abused
and are attempted to assault sexually. They are deprived of their husband’s property. Due to
lack of education, they have no knowledge about their husband’s business, property, insurance
amount savings etc. Taking advantage of her ignorance, the in-laws try to grab the property,
over which she has the legal rights. (1) There are three reasons for the harassment of widows
power, property and sexual exploitation. Age, education and class too, are closely related to it.
(2) The young, uneducated and middle or law class widows are more victimized than the old,

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