Attrocities Against Women

 "Women was the first human being that tasted bondage. Woman was a slave before the slave existed," said August Bebel in his text on `women under socialism.' It is indeed sad that women are still under bondage, unable to assert their rights, silently putting up with all possible atrocities. Domestic and sexual violence against woman is prevalent all over the world, though a major chunk of the news remains under reported. It is estimated that two thirds of wives in developing countries are physically battered, while in India, it is claimed that there are about 9,000 dowry deaths every year. There exist many more such shocking indicators of brutal violence against women. All said and done, violence against women is never perceived as violation of human rights!

During a recent research study that was conducted to assess the social modernisation level of girl students belonging to XI standard, it was surprising to note that, on an average, 65 per cent of the respondents simply approved of `wife beating,' as they felt it was a common phenomenon happening in every other home! The revelation about the attitude of girls towards violence, though alarming, is thought provoking. It sends across vital messages about the quality of socialisation process they have been through all along. While media, educational institutions, family, and peer groups are expected to play a prominent role in strengthening and shaping the personality of the growing child, it is disheartening to note that these agents of socialisation have been biased in their approach. Girls are, right from their tender age, conditioned to accept stereotyped gender roles and duties that continuously reinforce their `inferior' status. It is not surprising that girls invariably grow up accepting gender discrimination, thus becoming passive recipients of unfair and unjust acts practised against them.

It's time to act... and educational institutions should take the lead by framing curriculum to include subjects on Human Rights with special focus on women's rights. Teachers should be trained to handle these subjects through various programmes, activities, workshops, street plays, seminars, etc., so as to inculcate values in the girl child to maintain her individuality, assert her right and more importantly not fall into the trap of accepting the culturally programmed gender roles.