Title: Silences and choosing to hear: perceptions of violence against women.

POPLINE Document Number: 123191

Author(s):

Karlekar M

Source citation:

In: No safe spaces. Report of a workshop on violence against women, March 27-28, 1995, [edited by] Malavika Karlekar with Anuja Agrawal and Maithili Ganjoo. New Delhi, India, Centre for Women's Development Studies, 1995. :3-7.

Abstract:

This document summarizes the first paper presented and discussed during a session on psychosocial and historical perspectives of violence against women held during a workshop in India in 1995. This paper dealt with varying perceptions of violence which govern the acknowledgement of its existence. An attempt was made to determine if perceptual and attitudinal differences led to different treatment of victims of violence based on the sociodemographic status of the victim or on perceptions about the nature of the crime. It was found that discourse changes during treatment of a case often led to a new understanding of events. Two of the four cases presented in this session are summarized in this document. In one, a women who was continually beaten by her husband was rescued by her neighbors after he doused her with kerosene and threatened to kill her. In the other case, an abuse victim ultimately disappeared from the system without receiving help. This case indicates that abuse cases are not receiving adequate follow-up. In each case, the acts of violence were underreported either by the victim or by the agency. The two additional cases not reviewed in this document indicated how violence is viewed from a vantage point which privileges the sanctity of the family and makes it difficult to question male dominance. Discussion of the paper centered on such issues as the need to create definitions of "violence" and "victim," the role of social expectations as a basis for action, double standards, women's status, cultural violence, staff training needs, and mental violence. The ultimate question was whether to place responsibility on the victim, the agencies designed to help victims, or on society.

Keywords:

India
Summary Report
Conferences and Congresses
Workshops
Case Studies
Violence
Domestic Violence
Gender Issues
Gender Relations
Psychosocial Factors
Communication
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries
Education
Studies
Research Methodology
Behavior
Crime
Social Problems