Whose Mistake? Gender Roles and Physical Violence among Young Married Women

Abstract

Adolescence people, a stepping-stone from childhood into adulthood. However, with early marriage, this transition is lost for many young women in India. Early marriage is common nationally, and usually the decision to marry is made by the family. The most recent National Family Health Survey in India found the national prevalence of marriage before the age of 18 years to be 45 per cent [iips 2006]. Early marriage thrusts roles and responsibilities of adulthood and motherhood on adolescents, adversely impacting their physical health and well-being [Bruce et al 2003]. Early marriage also places young women at risk for physical violence by their husbands [Madhurima 1996; Unicef 2001]. Younger women (less than 19 years) in India are more likely to experience physical violence than their older counterparts [Madhurima 1996; Kapadia-Kundu et al 2004]. The repercussions of early marriage and physical violence can compound distress for young married women [Bruce et al 2003; Haberland et al 2003]. While the reproductive and sexual health needs of married adolescents have been considered, issues related to physical violence in this vulnerable group remain largely unexplored. A cross-cultural analysis of 90 societies around the world found that physical violence against women exists in at least 75 of them [Levinson 1989]. Several studies point to the combination of factors at the individual, family, and cultural levels promoting perpetration of physical violence against women [Dhawan 1999; Purkayashta et al 2003]. Tacit social sanction for physical violence against women by an intimate partner has resulted in acceptance of the practice at a larger societal level. The mechanisms and modalities through which social sanction for physical violence operates need to be identified and understood. In particular, the attitudes and norms that sanction and condone violent behaviour within early marriage need to be unearthed [Gelles et al 1979; Nayaketal2003]. The often silent, ongoing physical violence against women is an epidemic that has not been adequately addressed by the public health sector. Much of this violence occurs within the confines of women's own homes and is inflicted by their husbands or intimate partners [Fishbach et al 1997]. Gender-based violence is a public health issue, and its prevention will require innovative approaches. Violence prevention requires more focus at the research, policy, and programme levels. At the level of research priorities are to prevent the onset of violence (primary prevention) by identifying social norms that support intimate partner violence [Graff under et al 2004].

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