The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Sad plight of married women in old city

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Sunday, Aug 24, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Sad plight of married women in old city

HYDERABAD: About forty one per cent of women in the old city are subject to physical violence on a daily basis, 34.5 per cent reported abuse or sexual violence and five per cent reported instances of emotional abuse in their everyday lives, according to a study taken up by a women’s organisation in and around Sultanshahi.

Shaheen Women Resource and Welfare Association, a non-governmental organisation, undertook the study among a representative sample of 1,000 households on domestic violence among Muslim women titled - ‘Walking on Broken Glass’.

Along with different forms of abuse, 26 per cent women also said they were deprived of finances that amount to economic deprivation as per the Domestic Violence Act. While a link between education and violence could not be conclusively established, many women refused to admit to their bodies being violated, informed Jameela Nishat, general secretary, ‘Shaheen’.

Deny violence

Some women deny violence in order to maintain the family honour. Thirteen per cent reported instances of being beaten up by their husbands for varied reasons including financial conditions, dowry harassment, sexual compulsion, etc. Women also face violence from their in-laws with wives of brothers-in-law turning out to be inflicting violence and emotional trauma.

The survey has pointed out that 33 per cent of respondents are illiterate, 28 per cent school dropouts and only 15 per cent passed school board exams with some stating that poverty was the main reason for lack of education. But, a heartening aspect is many women are clear about getting their children educated for a better future. In fact, some children even bring mid-day meal given at school to be shared with the entire family. Fortyfive per cent respondents believe in their religion and 20 per cent said they did not know what it meant. On voting, 42 per cent said they vote independently, 20 per cent never cast their vote, eight per cent each voted as per husband’s or others’ choice. On mobility, 53 per cent go out with husbands, 21 per cent independently while 26 per cent do not go out at all! Ms. Nishat said that a study on behaviour of the menfolk towards women would perhaps help in understanding the phenomenon of domestic violence.

Oppression against women has nothing to do with religion and has no sanction of any class or religion, observed Islamic scholar and former academic Anwar Moazzam after releasing the study. He asserted that religion was being misinterpreted and distorted to condone oppression against women. “It has been the bane of Indian society cutting across class and religion to subjugate women,” Dr. Moazzam said. The study was supported by Oxfam (India) Trust.

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