Domestic violence
Domestic violence
is not only confined to
people of low income groups, it also occurs among educated and affluent people
It is quite worrying to note that incidents of domestic violence are going on unabated in the country and most of the victims are women and children. An agency report from Rajshahi carried in this newspaper on Sunday highlighted the menace. There are people who are of the notion that they have the right to beat their wives and children and physically or verbally abuse them. Women still have to bear the brunt of the repression perpetrated on them. Steeped in age-old superstitions, patriarchs and religious leaders are also against women raising their voice against repression. In a male-dominated society, women are generally looked upon as bearers of children and keepers of their husbands families. Any kind of lapsewhether real or imagined on their part is taken seriously and they become victims of maltreatment. Domestic violence is not only confined to people of low income groups, it also occurs among educated and affluent people.
There are people who not only beat their wives, they also beat their children without rhyme or reason. Parents have the right to discipline their children for their proper grooming up or for dissuading them from going astray. But that should not exceed the limits. Corporal punishment does more harm than good. Children who are subjected to repression by their parents develop a fear or a sort of trauma that continues to haunt them for a long time. Besides, there are children who see their mothers being tortured or abused by their fathers. These children cannot grow up or flourish in a normal environment and they harbour a kind of resentment against their domineering fathers. Corporal punishment is strictly prohibited by laws in different countries, and the violators of the same are liable to suffer punishment.
Many incidents of domestic violence are not projected by the media. Lack of social security of women does not allow them to inform police or others of their pitiable plights. This is very unfortunate; this outlook must change. A culture of mutual respect should grow. There is no credit in torturing women and children on various flimsy pretexts. It is a sadistic practice, an expression of impotent rage that does not pay ultimately. Heads of families, husbands or fathers should grow a culture of tolerance and forbearance in their manners and temperaments. They should realise that violence does not bring peace; it only exacerbates family troubles that may lead to disastrous consequences. Collective and concerted efforts of all can help curb incidents of domestic violence if not eliminating the same totally. Empowerment of women in a bigger way and generation of awareness can also help a lot in this regard.
