In India, More Women Than Men Justify Domestic Violence, Reveals Data
More than 30 per cent men and women agree that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife if she shows disrespect for her in-laws --- highest among the categories
As per the National Family Health Survey-5 (NHFS-5), there are seven categories where both genders were asked if beating wives is justified. More than 30 per cent men and women agree that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife if she shows disrespect for her in-laws — highest among the categories.
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Also, the category where least men and women agree that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife is if she refuses to have sex with him — less than 11 per cent in both genders.
The seven categories were: goes out without telling him; neglects the house or children; argues with him; refuses to have sexual intercourse with him; doesn’t cook properly; he suspects she is unfaithful; and she shows disrespect for in-laws.
Respondents were asked if they agree that a man is justified in hitting or beating his wife under each of the following seven circumstances. Respondents who answer “yes" in at least one circumstance are considered to have attitudes that justify wife-beating, as per the report.
More than one lakh women and almost the same number of men were asked these questions across various categories.
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana On Top
More than 80 in 100 women in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana agree that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one specified reason.
Among the men, Karnataka (82 per cent) and Telangana (70 per cent) had the highest share that justifies wife-beating.
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DNHDD) were the only in India where less than 10 per cent women justify wife-beating. However, in the UT, close to 20 in 100 men feel that it is justified to beat wives.
There is large variation across states in women’s and men’s agreement with wife-beating. For women, agreement with at least one reason for wife beating is lowest at nine per cent in DNHDD and 14 per cent in Chandigarh. The corresponding range for men is from nine per cent in Chandigarh to 82 per cent in Karnataka.
There are 15 states and Union Territories across India where more men feel it is justified to beat the wife for the seven reasons, as shown in the graphics. In 21 states, it is the women who have a higher share in justifying violence against wives.
Over the years, the attitude towards wife-beating has changed. But between 2015-16 and 2019-21, the same in men has increased by two percentage points, as shown in the graphics.
Agreement with wife-beating tends to increase with age for women but it decreases slightly with age for men. Also, for both women and men, agreement with wife-beating is lower in urban than rural areas and it tends to decrease with schooling and wealth.
Agreement declines from 53 per cent among women and 51 per cent among men with less than five years of schooling to 38 per cent among women, and 39 per cent among men with 12 or more years of schooling, as shown in the graphics.
As per the report, an important indicator of women empowerment is the rejection of norms that underlie and reinforce gender inequality. One such gendered norm is husbands’ “right" to control their wives in various ways, including through violence.
“Rejection of such norms signifies greater gender equality. Forty-five per cent of women and 44 per cent of men believe that a husband is justified in beating his wife in at least one of seven specified circumstances," the report reads.
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