Some Thoughts on Domestic Violence

By placing violence within structural relationships that form a part, and support patriarchal hierarchies within the family, the author demonstrates how violence against women is central to maintaining men’s power and privilege over the women at home. Historically, socially and culturally there has been a complete normalization of the violence men have inflicted upon women within the household. Husbands, fathers, brothers all use violence when their self-assumed authority appears to be challenged, while women do not speak about the violence, often, because it is associated with some wrongdoing on their part. Change began only when women began to question such violence. The chapter traces the progress in jurisprudence on domestic violence over the years, reflecting on the deep-rooted patriarchal attitude persistent in courts, and current approaches to addressing domestic violence in an environment where backlash continues to prejudice women’s fight against domestic violence.