Domestic Violence Against Women: A Case of Waling-13, Syangja

Abstract

Domestic violence refers to physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse from an intimate relationship due to unequal power structure between men and women. It is often under reported because of social stigma, uncertainty of safety, and lack of appropriate response from institutions meant to protect them. Data on this issue is scarce as there are very few studies on the subject. A higher level of domestic violence against women exists in Nepal and highly educated families as well because they are taught their duties but not their rights so those who decide to come forth demanding justice face an uphill task. It is said that there are more than 100 discriminatory legal provisions against women that denied them from enjoying equal rights within the law and being protected from violence from families, communities and the state. Women are thus denied the most fundamental Human Rights: namely life, liberty, bodily integrity and dignity of the person. Women's organizations and Mother Groups in rural areas have started reacting through social action and mass protest against it. This paper tries to reveal the causes and consequences of domestic violence against women. For the purpose of the study, the researcher had applied the social science research methodology. The study was held on both exploratory and descriptive research design. The sources of data were both primary and secondary and the natures of data were both secondary were both qualitative and quantitative. 100 samples are chosen purposively for the study. The problem of domestic violence against women has grown so terribly huge and has rooted up to the depth of this society that to prevent easily in just a click remains a fantasy. Though most of the respondents are familiar about domestic biolence, majority of the cases are related with beating, battering, punish their spouse by drinking alcohol and drug abuse, patriarchy, child marriage/ polygamy are the major causes of domestic violence in that area that causes domestic violence. Physical torture is common to the victims whereas other types are less common. Most of the disputes happened on simple matters such as simple mistakes and verbal abuse which end with violence which are happened within the household chores. Mother in law and husbands are mainly involved in such disputes. So, efforts should be done from the basic level by educating every people and make them aware. Most of the respondents are facing different problems. Physical injury, mental tension, depression are common consequences among the respondents. A few of the respondents are treated physically and psychological counseling. So, careful and effective efforts should be made first in household level, then in the society and then in the national level to gain a satisfactory progress against the domestic violence cases.