Domestic Violence against Women A Case Study of Thumpokhara VDC (Ward Number 6) in Syangja District
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Faculty of Population Studies
Abstract
This research work aimed to unveil the situation of domestic violence against
women in Thumpokhara VDC of Syangja district. From introducing the topic through
reviewing the existing literature on the subject, the thesis goes on to the analysis and
interpretation of the data collected in the concerned site. Finally summary and
conclusions of the thesis have been drawn.
Various aspects and variables of the state of women in violence have been
discussed. Level of knowledge and awareness of women about violence, their
willingness and readiness to report and knowledge of institutional structures for
reporting were carefully considered. The faith and confidence on legal provisions
against VAW and situation of remedy against it were an important part.
The research is built up with 110 structured interviews of women and
adolescent girls. Besides, 16 key informants' interviews and 3 FGDs were made. Of
the three FGDs, 2 were held among women and adolescent girls and 1 among men.
Well-devised structured questionnaire and checklist were used in order to ensure that
all the essential aspects are covered in the process.
Of the women interviewed, 27.3 percentages of them were ever the victims of
domestic violence. Highest (40%) proportion of women interviewed is at the age
ranging from 20 to29 years. About 46.7 percentages of the women and girls included
in the survey are from Dumre household followed by Tiwari 23.3 and Pandey 16.7
percentage. About 13.3 percentages of the interviewed women make the Dalit and
other caste groups.
The study shows that 63.7 percentage of the interviewed women are currently
married and 22.7 percentage unmarried adolescent girls; while 45.5 percentage live in
nuclear families, 54.5 percentage of them live in joint families. The literacy status is
very poor: about 36.4 percentages are literate and 63.6 percentages are illiterate. Of
the interviewed women 16.7% of victim women are engaged in agricultural activities
especially as agricultural laborer and about 66.7% are engaged in their own
agricultural activities. Nearly 26.7 percentage victim women have given birth to son,
40 percentages have only daughter and 33.3 percentages are childless. It was found
that the status of awareness on VAW and women's legal right is very poor in the
VDC. Only about 68.2 percentages of the women knew or ever heard of incidence of
violence. While the largest number of women agreed that sexual abuse is VAW, the
least percentage i.e. 26.4 agreed that accusing someone of a witch is a VAW.
Likewise, among the key informants 68.8 percentage of them have expressed that
situation of VAW is bad in the VDC. While it comes to the reasons behind VAW,
most of the women have opined that it is lack of education and ignorance that is
supporting the persistence of VAW; and second in the reason is the existing situation
of male domination in the society.
Nevertheless, when it comes to reporting of the violence caused to them,
majority of them would want to keep it secret which has a number of reasons behind
it. The largest numbers (38.9%) consider there is no benefit in reporting the violence
followed by 28.8% who believe family prestige is more important. A considerable
number of women also believe reporting further increases the problem in the family.
The women who agree that there is a differential treatment in economic rights
have outnumbered those who have said there exist differential treatment in
educational, legal and reproductive rights. Of course, it is the right and control of the
economic resources that determines the power of women in the society. It seems that
when they do not feel secure enough, they do not dare to report violence, oppose it
and seek remedy against it. Therefore, one of the important findings was women need
to be empowered by their access and control of the resources of the family, by
educating them, and keeping law and order by punishing the perpetrators of violence.
Once confidence is built of the women, they voluntarily are likely to seek remedy of
violence they suffer.
Women in Thumpokhara VDC were largely unaware of awareness programs in
broadcast and print media. Knowledge of legal provisions made for ending VAW is
very weak. More critically, they do not have faith that a victim will be protected, her
family life will not be ruined and the perpetrator will be given the maximum
punishment allowed by the law. Training for awareness raising, enhancing knowledge
on legal provisions, awareness raising on human rights and women's rights, and
empowerment are vital if VAW is to be controlled. These steps need to be backed up
by employment opportunities for economic strength accompanied by strong political
commitment to bring programs and implement them. Capacitating community level
mechanisms can be another sustainable way to control VAW.