Domestic violence

Fight for gender equality is not a fight against men. It is a fight against traditions that have chained them since time immortal. It's a fight against attitudes that are ingrained in the society. It is a fight against Lakshman Rekha, carved by the society for women. The society must rise to the occasion. It must recognize and accept the fact that men and women are equal partners in life. They are individuals having distinct identity.

The entire discussion on problem of domestic violence has highlighted the fact that while the problem is as old as is the institution of family, the perception of its problematic aspects is relatively recent. The worst forms of verbal, physical, psychological, mental and sexual violence are committed against women in their house. Violence or threats in the form of taunting about her family, her infertility or her giving birth to female infant only, suspicions about her infidelity, denying paternity of the children especially in front of relatives, drunken behavior of the husband and assaulting children to cause mental anguish to the mother, are few examples. "Women cannot lend their labor or creative ideas fully if they are burdened with physical and psychological scars of abuse".

The fear that surrounds women's lives prevents their free access to job and earning. It also curtails theit movement, limits their right to associate in real terms, free speech and the right to dissent and overall reduces opportunities to contribute in development or to gain equally from progress that is made. All this highlight het subordinate status in the society and deprives the nation from half of potential to fuel the engine of economic growth. In India there is a high level of tolerance for violence against women. 'India Hai, Sab Chalta Hai.' It is more shameful for women to complain of the violence. She is required to adjust and to create a world for herself that will either tolerate or mitigate the violence. 

It is sad but unfortunately true that woman has to play a subordinate role in her house. Her major concern is te fulfill the comforts of the family as a dutiful daughter, loving mother, obedient daughter-in-law and faithful and submissive wife. She is perhaps everything except a human being at par, with her counterpart. With a view to bring about the equality for women from "dejure to de facto", educating the female would play an important role. She has to speak for herself, fight for herself to make her presence felt. "Tu Bolegi Muh Kholegi, Tabhi Zamana Samjhega"