We are swaddled by the consistent buzzing of covid cases, new variants, lockdown, etc. What about the issue of domestic violence? Has it intensified or dwindled during the time of pandemic? Has the pandemic saved women or forced them to stay with their abusers?
A psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse pattern is referred to as domestic violence. Assaults, humiliation, and coercion are also considered violent acts. There is an upswing in gender-based violence. According to official statistics, the National Commission for Women registered a 2.5-fold rise in domestic violence cases in April of last year. It is not just about the numbers; it is also about the psychological and social effects the lockdown will have on women. Whether natural or man-made, any traumatic emergency appears to increase the frequency and prevalence of violence against women.
It is little surprise that women in crisis have nowhere to turn. They are humans caged with animals. A young woman rushed to her mother's house just before the lockdown to escape from her husband's verbal and physical abuse. She thought she would be healthy and at ease for a few days, but her optimism was short-lived. With the lockdown preventing her from returning to her home and a drop in income due to the lack of work, tensions among middle-class families were increasing. Due to lack of funds, her brother felt that she was an additional burden and beat her up. Women bear the brunt of financial instability.
During this period, many women have faced unemployment and have no alternative but to depend on their husbands. Women are enduring three times more than men. There is the refusal of privacy, they are under constant surveillance and are deprived of breathing space. Children are being used as anchors to hold the women back. Men consider women as their property and consider it a license to beat the women up. There are strict, detailed rules of behaviour that end in mishandling if any of them is broken or not obeyed diligently. There is a restriction on necessities like food, water, sanitary napkins, etc.
The foreign feeling of being imprisoned in four walls is deterring for men and they use women as punching bags to vent out their frustration. Man deems this as a coping mechanism to deal with additional stress. Staying at home for a lengthier duration has caused less attachment towards the spouse, the feeling of attraction is negligent. It is replaced by annoyance. Men have not been used to the ordeals women undergo and slight changes lead to violence.
Some households consider a member turning Covid positive humiliating and the woman is blamed that her carelessness resulted in illness. Families prefer concealing the cases. A mixture of stress, fear, helplessness, and risk exposure has created an environment of increasing domestic violence. Homeless women, women with physical disabilities, and mental illness are more vulnerable. They have nowhere to flee. Even if they find any help, it is hard to accommodate them. Ultimately, they are confined to four walls with their abusers.
Housewives are facing sustained isolation, they have nowhere to go, no one to depend on, no one to talk with, they are no longer in touch with the social groups. All the burden falls on women from cooking to taking care of the elderly to teaching children. They have to deal with everything like a robot from dusk to dawn. Working women are juggling between work overload and family responsibilities. There is constant pressure to create a balance between household chores and work life, even maids are not available due to the crisis. In any situation, women have to face the brunt, their capabilities and skills are not given any worth.
Crime has not ceased, just been sidelined amidst pandemic. Recently a verified source stated that a 75-year-old woman was chopped into pieces and packed in a bag for resisting rape, her limbs were set on fire. Domestic violence increases when women are not able to meet the demands of the husband. Another woman was facing her husband's wrath for not able to procure alcohol during the lockdown. She contacted the police, who gave her an official phone number. When the husband learned of the allegation, however, the violence became more serious. Another incident happened that a husband beat his wife severely which ultimately resulted in the death of the wife and he was crying afterwards that he loved her and had no plan to kill her. It is pathetic to even hear of, how is love present when you hurt your better half!
We have no inkling of the true picture, we are dealing with the cases known to us. What about the incidents of violence which are considered private affairs, a matter between husband and wife, and never reported? Very rare cases are reported, women are hesitant in reporting cases due to the dignity and reputation of the family. Domestic violence is normalized in families. It could be the tip of the iceberg because women from underprivileged communities lack the resources to reach out. Even a single slap is unacceptable!
The immediate victims of the abuse are mothers and daughters. Girls are being pressured to reconsider child marriage as a viable choice because their education and future are in jeopardy. Families are taking advantage of the situation to marry off their daughters early. Children are exposed to uncomfortable and dangerous issues.
We saw how the pandemic has varied impacts on the lives of women. Will the situation change any time soon? Would the pandemic relegate the cases of violence as it goes away, or will the harassment of women continue until generations? The question is on you!
Written By- Paridhi Sharma
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