Domestic Violence among the Modern Youth
Author: Jose K John
3rd year, B.A. LLB. (Hons.),
School of Law, Christ (Deemed to be University),
Bengaluru.
Domestic Violence, even though a smear, is a recurring concept in every family across the world. It is something that is carried forward by human beings as an ancestral habit and is not embarrassed in continuing the same. Even though decades and centuries have passed and the society has started considering the women’s rights as an integral element of human rights, the patriarchy and its domination portrays women to be subjective to men and an object to which men can take all his frustration and anger. Women continue to be the martyrs of the constant assaults of men especially in the modern families and that too among the youth.
The former President of India Shri. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in his bestselling book Wings of Fire has quoted that “My message to young people is to have the courage to think differently ….to conquer the problems and succeed.” Even though he is a great visionary and a great inspiration to the youth, his words haven’t ignited the young minds to think and act differently. The unemployment rate and the stress that the employed youth face in today’s generation are found to be the major reasons for the youth to be violent prone. Also this anxiety and stress lead them to be slaves of acute alcoholism and drugs which lead them to abusive behaviour. These are the reasons found in the urban youths. In the rural areas domestic violence is more prevalent because of the lack of awareness about the rights. It is seen as a usual practice in rural households that men brutally assaults women for no reason and the children grow up instilling these in their minds and thinks it to be the right the thing and they do the same when they understand that they are physically stronger than the female and hence they will have the complete authority over them even to oppress and to make them silent. Early marriages and the family burden that arises to men due to this give them another reason to ravish women in their home.
It is seen that spousal violence is more than any other violence in the families of young women. They are tortured physically, mentally, economically and sexually, that even leading to their death. Various statistics taken among newly married women show that they have experienced domestic violence from their intimate partners within the first year of their marriage and an average rate of 34.6% of women have suffered violence from their husbands. While it is the case of lack of awareness in the rural areas, in urban areas it is more of forbidding the knowledge of existing laws due to the lack of time and procedural implications that they have to go through. The rate of youth approaching the court seeking separation is very high when compared to those people who approached the court 20 years back for the same purpose. This indicates two vital things which are increased legal awareness and also the increased domestic violence. Getting educated usually has to reflect in positive results especially in the behavioural manner of the people. But it is also seen that laws are misused for personal benefits of the individual. In rural areas, physical abuse is seen the most followed by sexual abuse. Lack of sex education and the resultant problems out of it is also another reason for the increased domestic violence rate in the rural area. Young men may not understand that what they do is marital rape and also amounting to domestic violence holding liable for imprisonment and various other sanctions. In the case of unmarried youths the domestic violence will be to their mothers and sisters at home who will easily forgive them as it is their own blood and will hesitate to move legally as it will create disgrace to their family only and the blame can’t be shifted to another family or individual.
The modern problems of domestic violence in youth require treatment with modern solution. The Domestic Violence Act, 2005 provides with different types of orders that include residence orders, protection orders, custody orders, monetary reliefs, compensation orders, ex-parte and interim orders that help in the prevention of domestic violence to a great extent. But all these are judicial remedies and it most of it abridges the relationship between the victim and perpetrator. This will create another hassle as there are victims who face great trauma due to the domestic violence. For such people proper channel through judicial intervention is the best solution. For the matters that are slightly lighter counselling sessions and talks by those who are close to both will create a huge impact. Also as the youth is sunk in the social media, awareness through these platforms will also benefit and it will try to create the right behaviour in their lives. For the tomorrow’s youth, legal education and moral education should be provided on domestic violence and the need to respect and treat everyone equally without subjecting them. These must be added into the curriculums of children in their school and make it a point that they at least know the consequence if they are caught for domestic violence. The quantum of punishment has to be classified a
ccording to the offence committed to the victim and the age of the perpetrator. If at the initial occurrence the act is not serious and the victim hasn’t suffered badly then only corrective punishments must be given and in the event of recurrence then very strict punishments must be granted. Ultimately, the purpose of marriage is to unite and not to divide and the young and enthusiastic people must not be inside the jail but striving hard for a better and peaceful future.
ccording to the offence committed to the victim and the age of the perpetrator. If at the initial occurrence the act is not serious and the victim hasn’t suffered badly then only corrective punishments must be given and in the event of recurrence then very strict punishments must be granted. Ultimately, the purpose of marriage is to unite and not to divide and the young and enthusiastic people must not be inside the jail but striving hard for a better and peaceful future.
The best possible way is to practice a good family life and preach it to the children and let them grow by treating everyone equally.
References
i. Wings of Fire, A.P.J Abdul Kalam
ii. Behind closed Doors: Impact of Domestic Violence on Children, UNICEF, www.unicef.org
iii. Domestic Violence Act, 2005
iv. Study of domestic violence among currently married females of Haryana, India, Anuradha Nadda and Ors., Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2018, Vol. 40 Issue 8, Pg 534-539
