A Study On Domestic Violence Coping Stra

IRJMSH Vol 7 Issue 6 [Year 2016] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print)
A Study on Domestic Violence, Coping strategies between Rural Married

Women
R.Anitha1
1
Research Scholar,
Department of Sociology,
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University,
Tirunelveli-627012.
Email- anithaa458@gmail.com
Abstract
Experiencing domestic violence is considered a chronic and stressful life event. A

theoretical framework of coping strategies can be used to understand how women deal with
domestic violence. The researchers analyzed 151 cases in rural area based on this issue. The
researcher focused on Emotional abuse and physical violence. Which are the main part of
domestic violence and its major coping strategies implemented by rural married women. From
the study it is concluded that, Women should be brought up independently from their childhood.
They should not be discriminated on any basis. At the same time, Boys should also be taught
about mutual respect and other values. Proper counseling and awareness programs should be
given in order to bring gender equality in the society.
Keywords: Physical violence, Psychological abuse, coping strategies, culture, Social structure.
Introduction
India is a country of contradictions. On the one hand, women are worshipped as deities,
without whose blessings, work cannot be initiated. On the other hand, crimes against women and
girls are increasing day by day in India. It is sad that in many cases, the perpetrators are known
to the victims. The perpetrators could be among relatives, neighbors, friends etc. This increasing
mistrust can create havoc in the Indian societal pattern. The patriarchal norms are so entrenched
in the Indian society that it is very difficult to pull oneself out of this conundrum. When girls are
born in most Indian families, they are not welcome, at times, even by their mothers. They lament
that a son could have been a real asset for the family. Upbringing of girls is an expensive affair,
where there is only loss as the girl gets married off and will serve the grooms‟ family throughout
her life. In India, the life of a woman changes a lot after marriage. She leaves her parents‟ house
after marriage and starts living with the groom‟s family. Since childhood, she is socialized into
thinking that she has to take up the food habits, dress, rituals etc of the new family. So, happily
or grudgingly, she evolves her identity according to the demands of the groom‟s family and the
groom.
International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 177
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There are three main aspects of the patriarchal household structure in India that affect
women‟s agency: marriage, active discrimination by means of abuse (marital or extramarital),
and diminished women‟s agency through limited economic opportunity through stifled
opportunity for independence. In all these dimensions, there is a clear relationship between
strong patriarchal familial structures and limited capabilities and agency for women, which are
strongly correlated with causal factors for domestic violence such as gender disparities in
nutritional deprivation and a lack of women‟s role in reproductive decisions. Other factors
outside culture that demonstrate differences in domestic violence prevalence and gender
disparities in India include socioeconomic class, educational level, and family structure beyond
the patriarchal framework.
The family as a site for women's oppression has been stated in the literature and
encompasses two arenas: financial structure and the devaluing of domestic work and parenting.
These include feminine nurturance, romantic love, self-sacrifice, materialism, masculine
protection and financial support. Gender polarity establishes dominance and control as central
aspects of the masculine and as inappropriate in the feminine. An analysis of patriarchy as a
condition of abuse explains why women appear to accept psychological abuse to some extent.
(Chang, 1996)
Domestic violence is a widespread problem throughout the developed and developing

world and makes serious impact on quality of human life and broader development. Violence
against women is the manifestation of a historically unequal power relationship between men
and women. It is a conditioned response and is not natural or born of biological determinism. In
the olden days, violence against women was a result of the prevalent atmosphere of ignorance
and feudalism. Today violence against women is an uncontrollable phenomenon, which is a
direct result of the rapid urbanization, industrialization and structural adjustment programmes
which are changing the socio-economic scenario of our country. In this land where non-violence
has been preached as a way of life for thousands of year and where women have been
worshipped in the image of Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi, it is shocked to observe the brutal
reality of women‟s existence (Sharma 2000).
The family is the first and the foremost agencies of socialization and social control. In India,
domestic violence has been directly related to status and role of the individuals in the family.
Family, apart from providing security and emotional support, fulfills certain essential and non
essential functions. It provides the safest and the most secure environment to an individual to
grow. But due to the fact family consists of the crystallized and legitimized, socially and
culturally constructed rigid gender based roles and in a patriarchal set up there is fundamental
inequalities between men and women. These inequalities have been a part and parcel of the
Indian families for year.
Domestic violence in India includes any form of violence suffered by a person from a
biological relative, but typically is the violence suffered by a woman by male members of her
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family or relatives. According to a National Family and Health Survey in 2005, total lifetime
prevalence of domestic violence was 33.5% and 8.5% for sexual violence among women aged
15–49. The instance of violence was reported to be lowest among Buddhist and Jain women, and
highest among Muslim women in India. A 2014 study in The Lancet reports that the reported
sexual violence rate in India is among the lowest in the world, the large population of India
means that the violence affects 27·5 million over women their lifetime Domestic violence under
the act includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse whether physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or
economic.
Physical violence
Physical injury is the most visible form of domestic violence. The scope of physical
domestic/intimate partner violence includes slapping, pushing, kicking, biting, hitting, throwing
objects, strangling, beating, threatening with any form of weapon, or using a weapon.
Worldwide, the percentage of women who suffer serious injuries as a result of physical domestic
violence tends to range from 19% - 55%. Physical injuries as a result of domestic violence
against women are more obvious than psychological ones, and can be more easily discerned by
health professionals as well as courts of law in the context of legal prosecution.
Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse has been gaining more and more recognition in recent years as an
incredibly common form of domestic violence (and therefore a human rights abuse) within the
private home throughout developing nations such as India. Psychological abuse can erode a
woman‟s sense of self-worth and can be incredibly harmful to overall mental and physical
wellbeing. Emotional/psychological abuse can include harassment; threats; verbal abuse such as
name-calling, degradation and blaming; stalking; and isolation. Women who experience
domestic violence overwhelmingly tends to have greater overall emotional distress, as well as
disturbingly high occurrences of suicidal thoughts and attempts. According to a study by the
National Centre for Biotechnology Information, suicide attempts in India are correlated with
physical and psychological intimate partner violence. Of the Indian women who participated in
the study, 7.5% reported attempting suicide. This correlation is supported by the high rates of
domestic violence in India, although the rates differ greatly by region, individual socioeconomic
status and other factors.
Emotional abuse is one of the most prevalent forms of abuse of women by their intimate
partners and its damage is unquestionably severe, undermining a woman's sense of worth,
agency and independence. It also diminishes a woman's ability to care and provide for her
children and to participate in the work force. Emotional abuse crosses all social classes, ethnic
groups, sexual orientations and religions. The common denominators of abusers are personal,
social and psychological, not demographic. (Miller, 1995; Burstow, 1992)
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Emotional abuse has been gaining more and more recognition in recent years as an
incredibly common form of domestic violence (and therefore a human rights abuse) within the
private home throughout developing nations such as India. Psychological abuse can erode a
woman‟s sense of self-worth and can be incredibly harmful to overall mental and physical
wellbeing. Emotional/psychological abuse can include harassment; threats; verbal abuse such as
name-calling, degradation and blaming; stalking; and isolation. Women who experience
domestic violence overwhelmingly tends to have greater overall emotional distress, as well as
disturbingly high occurrences of suicidal thoughts and attempts. According to a study by the
National Centre for Biotechnology Information, suicide attempts in India are correlated with
physical and psychological intimate partner violence. Of the Indian women who participated in
the study, 7.5% reported attempting suicide. This correlation is supported by the high rates of
domestic violence in India, although the rates differ greatly by region, individual socioeconomic
status and other factors.
Coping Mechanisms
Women‟s responses to domestic violence in India have historically been characterized as
follows: women as helpless victims unable to leave their relationship because of their submission
to patriarchal norms; or women as „superwomen‟ who triumph over patriarchal norms and
emerge as independent, self-sufficient women, free from violence. This dichotomy of choices is
unrepresentative of the diversity of experiences that women have, as well as the diversity of
women‟s responses to domestic violence. The woman-as-victim narrative is especially
problematic because it neglects any form of agency that women might have over the violent
situation.
Howell (1999) examined the relationship between coping strategies and marital
satisfaction of dual career couples with children. The subjects were drawn an urban
neighborhood. The occupation -ted included business, health, education, law, and social service.
The results demonstrated a significant relationship between coping strategies and marital
satisfaction in dual career families with children.
Review of literature
Amanda J. Grovert (2008), in this study it is focused this literature will cover book, chapters,
articles (1979-Present) key word; Domestic violence, family violence, intimate partner violence,
wife beating literature review is divided into three subsections. Center for women‟s studies &
development, research institute (2005) Kerala A situational profile analyzed by the following
variables such a age, education, religion, community, duration of marriage, Types of marriage,
types of family and the variables are employment, income, source of income, housing conditions,
household assets, savings & loans from the data we may concluded:
 Most violence seems in lower class

 Exists more in nuclear family
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 Domestic violence seems high in illiterate, female those who have only secondary school,
if the women beings less educated, they encountered in violence, through dowry was
given at the time of marriage, the demand for the persists after the marriage also.
Levendosky, et al., (2004), in this study, Social isolation has been shown to be associated
with domestic violence. Severely abused women tend to be extremely socially isolated, and
have no one in their limited social network that can provide the types of support listed above
additionally, women who are educated are less likely than those who are motto return to an
abusive partner. It was hypothesized that higher education can contribute to the presence of
social networks.
Smith and Segal (2010) says that domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, yet
the problem is often overlooked, excused, or denied. This is especially true when the abuse is
psychological, rather than physical, emotional abuse is often minimized yet it can leave deep
and lasting scars.
Women health.gov (2009) reported that violence and abuse affect all kinds of people
every day. It doesn‟t matter what race or culture you come from. How much money you
have, how old you are, of if you have a disability. Violence against does not discriminate.
Above can be physical, mental or emotional. Violence against women in any form is a crime,
whether the abuser is a family member someone you date: a current or post spouse, boy
friend, or girl friend, can acquaintance or a stranger.
Williamson (2004) said the spectrum of domestic violence may include psychological,
physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse which may manifest itself as physical injury, the
deprivation of food, money or other resources, intimidation, humiliation and degradation, and
may result in anemones, pain, exhaustion, isolation, alienation, depression, fear and decreased
levels of self esteem, productivity and attentiveness. The law forbids any kind of violence.
Vernon J. Geberth (1998) defined “domestic violence defined as a pattern of behavior

involving physical, sexual , economic and emotional abuse, alone or in combinations, by an
intimate partner after for the purpose of establishing and maintaining power and control over the
other partner, the origins of domestic violence are in social, legal and cultural norms, some
historical and some current, including acceptance of violent behavior by men as the heads of
households while domestic violence occurs in all types of intimate relationships, it is over
whelming a problem of violence perpetrated by men against women” Tomita (1999) defined
“economical abuse includes as behavior that maintains power and control over finances such as I
preventing their partner from getting or keeping job.”
Vijyendra rao (1995) found that in three multi care villages in the southern state of Karnataka
only 22% women claimed to have been abused by their husband‟s infect, during field work, two
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women were hit by their husbands but in response to a question, the very same women did not
say that they had been abused. The researcher concluded that it was only if the beating were very
severe did women perceive of themselves as being abused. The odd slap or blow was regarded as
routine husband like behavior. There was wide societal tolerance for wife abuse, which was even
considered justifiable under certain circumstances disputers over dowries, wife sexual
infidelities, her neglect of household duties, and her disobedience of her husband‟s dictated are
all considered legitimate cases wife beating. Observation during field work for the project on
domestic violence also confirmed a high degree of accept of male violence; it was only when the
torture became UN bearable or death appeared imminent that most women appeared willing to
speak out.
Sonawat (2001) Indian society is one of the oldest and more traditional societies in the world.
For the most part, families in India have historically been organized according to the patriarchal
system where marriage has been husband-dominated regardless of the resources of either the
husband or the wife. The two known exceptions in India which follow the matriarchal system
(female run households) include certain castes in the southwest state of Kerela and the Garo and
Khasi tribes of the north-east. In a patriarchal society, strict gender-role norms about what men
and women should be and do, govern social life. Many norms follow the rule that men are
dominant in status and power so they should be the protective provider, while women should be
obedient and dependent (Chen et al., 2009).
Pande Rekha, Bindu, Mumtaz Fatima and Nazhath Khatron (2008) conducted “A study of
the narratives of Domestic Violence: Reconstructing Masculinities and Feminists.” The major
objectives of the study, try to focus the construction of masculinities with an emphasis on male
and female sexualities in domestically violent situations. We deliberately refuse to universalize
these findings and are quite aware that there are many other patterns in which domestic situations
deteriorate into violence. The limited role that we except this paper to serve is as follow: we
would like to ask the question whether particular gender role perceptions work towards
strengthening the structural conditions that lead towards violence within homes. A schedule-
cum-Interview method was used a tool. The sample consisted of Mahila Police Station. We had
interviewed victims who had come to lodge complaints in the Mahila Police Station at police
control room. We also took the interview of the police personnel and the counselors in the place.
The major finds of the study were: (1) Dowry if demanded acts not only as an economic
bargaining mechanism, but also an emotional bargaining Mechanism. Families seem to negotiate
with emotional control mechanism using dowry. (2) Another finding that we can draw is that
men seem to be more stuck with their families and there seems to be an article to control the
newlywed daughter-in-law. Yet another conclusion revolves around perceptions of femininities,
by both men and women which seem to be clearly affecting both groups in domestically violent
situations. Man‟s images of women‟s incapable and women‟s image of themselves as sacrificing
people seem to produce a conductive atmosphere to bread violence. Another important finding
was around men‟s sexual problem‟s their problems with sexuality seem to be an area which
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creates a vulnerable home atmosphere. Yet another way in which sexuality seems to be
inextricably connected to violence centers around suspicions on the woman‟s fidelity. Affairs
with other women also seem to destroy the peace of many a home. In many ways, we need to get
out of the victim-aggressor model which seems to work in most feminist analysis of masculinity
and violence. This is not a call to “Understand Men” better the way women have always been
asked to do but to actually understand masculinities (and with it, femininities) and their social
constructions better.
Mohanty (2003) has argued that Indian women are not merely located within the patriarchal
family structure as wives, daughters, or mother-in-laws; it is within these patriarchal structures
that women as Indian wives, Indian daughters, and Indian mother-in laws are constructed, often
being defined within and by the patriarchal structure. For example, the desired characteristics of
an Indian woman as self-sacrificing, gentle, patient, caring, or homely are not created in a
vacuum. These desired characteristics are often designed to serve a specific purpose in the Indian
family household, and are closely aligned to the roles to the woman play in the household. Thus,
the construction of an Indian woman cannot necessarily be dissociated from the context of the
Indian family. The violence experienced by Indian women must be situated in a specific familial
context, so as to clearly detail the influences that families have on the identities of women.
Johnson et al., (2001) Says that, at the heart of patriarchy in India is the oppression of
women, as they are considered inferior to men. From the day she is born until the day she dies,
an Indian woman is expected to be under the control of a man and to serve him without question.
Female children are believed to belong to their fathers until they are married, at which time they
become the property of their husbands. Marriage is generally considered to be the only socially
acceptable choice for a woman, as remaining single would bring disgrace upon her family.
However, the choice of whom to marry is usually restricted, as most marriages even today
continue to be arranged, with parents playing a pivotal role in finding a suitable match based on
their own parameters. Once married, the woman is faced with strict gender role expectations that
stem from cultural assumptions of what is considered appropriate masculine and feminine
behavior, fostering inequality between husbands and wives.
Niveditha Menon, (2003), According to the author here the domestic violence examine the
relationship among patriarchal ideology, domestic violence and women‟s agency action through
the prism of culture and the test done by the descriptive method among respondents, their coping
strategies are done by the objectives such as, formal network; Getting help from clergy, doctor,
employers, domestic shelters, police trying to get hers or herself to private counseling legal net
work; Formal petitions, criminal charge, divorce or child support.
Dr.A.B.Siddiqui (2013) Defines domestic violence as, “Socially unacceptable and

abusive behavior by one or other or both the members in a close and intimate relationships like
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marriage, live in, dating or gamily other terms denote domestic violence are domestic abuse &
family violence “here violence is classified into four types these are:
 Intimate terrorism - Approach gaining control one another by terror.

 Physical abuse - Physical contact of one among other sexual unwanted sexual activity by
force or threat and is classified into two types; 1.Compel/force 2.Unwilling participation
of respondent.
 Sexually assault - Sexual contact or behavior without consent such as forced sexual
intercourse, forcible sodomy, rape.
 Marital rape - without consent of respondent/women
 Verbal abuse - use bad language or words, by abused which cause humiliation. Types of
verbal abuse name calling, humiliation, blaming false to submit to undesirable behavior.
 Economic abuse; Abuser prevent victim attaining economic self suffer abuser‟s control
over victim finance, control of abuser on victims earning more over, severity of domestic
violence is classified by the following three phases.
Domestic violence consist three basic phase:
 Tension building phase

 Acute battering episode
 Honeymoon phase
Tension building phase; tension build over small domestic issues, such as money children,
job, tension building starts with verbal abuse. Even though if the victim asks to stop abuser
continues & consequently physical abuse starts. Acute battering episodes; simply mounting
tension phase. It leads to violence done by emotional state of abuser. Honeymoon phase; abuser
express sorrow for his behavior, once again the leaving relationships not necessary.
Ahuja (1998) reported that, the forms of violence commonly found by were slapping,
kicking, tearing hair, pushing and pulling, hitting with an object, attempting to strangulate and
threatening. Forms of psychological abuse were also found to exist, for instance, verbal abuse,
sarcastic remarks in the presence of outsiders, imposing severe restrictions on freedom of
movement, totally ignoring the wife in decision-making processes, making frequent complaints
against her to her parents, friends, neighbors, and kin much to the embarrassment of
the wife. Some of the reasons given by the women were financial matters, behavior with in-laws,
back-biting, talking to any male without the liking of the husband, asking for money, preventing
him from drinking and husbands personality traits.
John Simister and Judith Makowiece (2008), in their study, “Domestic violence in Indian:
Effects of education”. This article studies domestic violence between husband and wife in India
and attitudes to domestic violence. We use the term „gender based violence‟ because some men
use violence to control their wives. Data from the demographic and health survey 1998 to 2000
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has been analysed. This survey includes women in the age 15 to 49, in 26 Indian states we focus
only on violence (such as a wife being hit by her husband‟s family, or a men being hit by his
wife). Evidence in this paper is consistent with previous research indicating that gender-based
violence is very whether such violence is seen as acceptable in the perpetrator‟s family and in the
local community. We suggest that there are similarities between the behaviour of some Indian
men and the „machismo‟ values reported in other cultures. We confirm previous claims that
violence is less common if women and men are well educated, we also note that acceptance of
domestic violence appears to be related to the respondent‟s education level. Thus we encourage
the government of India to priorities education for both boys and girls.
Kaur, R. and Garg, S. (2008) pointed out that, in worldwide there has been an increasing
concern about violence against women in general and domestic violence in particular. Domestic
violence is common across culture, religion, class and ethnicity. Domestic violence can be
described as the power misused by one adult in a relationship to control another. This violence
can take the form of physical assault, psychological abuse, social abuse, financial abuse or sexual
assault. The protection of women from domestic violence act, 2005, says that any act, conduct,
omission, or commission that harms or injures, or has the potential to harm or injure, will be
considered domestic violence by the law. Even a single act of omission or commission may
constitute domestic violence. In other words, women do not have to suffer a prolonged period of
abuse before taking recourse to law. The law covers children also.
Bomstein (2006) points out that it is important to realize that links between economic
dependency and abuse are bi-directional. High economic dependency may lead some women to
tolerate physical abuse, but repeated abuse may lead to economic' dependence. Women in violent
relationships who do work may have trouble concentrating, be harassed at work by an abusive
partner, and have low self-efficacy due to abuse. The abuse can affect work performance to the
point where they may lose their jobs, contributing to their economic dependency on their
partners.
Methodology
The researcher employed qualitative research method. Interview schedule was used as a
tool for this research. As it provide detailed background about the respondent‟s opinions, values,
motivations, experiences and feelings. The researcher selected 151 married women for the study.
The researcher used census method for the sampling process. Widows and separated women
were excluded for the study. Researcher selected for this study 16-45 age group married
women‟s because for menopause.
Objectives of the study:
 To study the level of psychological abuse faced by women.
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 To study the level of physical violence faced by women.

 To study the Coping strategies of psychological, physical violence faced by women.
 To study the Non coping strategies forced to adopt by married women
Area of the study:

The present study is conducted in one village in Ambasamuthram taluk. 256 household‟s
total population is 1024 and the eligible sample is 151 in kumarasamipuram village from
Ambasamuthram taluk, in Tirunelveli district. In kumarasamipuram village from
Ambasamuthram taluk, agriculture is one of the primary occupations. Paddy, banana, vegetables
are the main crops grown here. In the fertile areas, the cultivation is done for 3 rounds in a year.
Beedi making is one of the main occupations in this village.
Sample Frame and Size:
The research area was selected based on multistage random sampling. In

Ambasamuthram taluks, kumarasamipuram village was selected. Researcher selected the
samples in the age group between 16-45years married women. Delimitation of the study is, the
widows and separate women are excluded from the study. The overall number of eligible
samples is taken for the study. The number of sample size is 151.
Data Analysis and Interpretation:

Psychological Abuse
Figure: 1
68.2
70 58.3
57.6
60
50
40 33.8 Insult
25.8 Humiliate
30 23.8
Physically harm
20 15.9
8.6
7.9
10
0
Always Sometimes Never
The above table shows the nature of psychological abuse faced by women through their
spouse. In one of the variable “Insult” 15.9% of the women said that they always face this type
of psychological abuse, 58.3% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of
violence, 25.8% of the women said that they never face such violence.
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In the variable “Humiliate” 7.9% of the women said that they always face this type of
psychological abuse, 23.8% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of violence,
68.2% of the women said that they never face such violence.
In the variable “Physically harm” 8.6% of the women said that they always face this type
of psychological abuse, 33.8% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of
violence, 57.6 % of the women said that they never face such violence.
Figure: 2
100 91.4 87.4
74.8
80 Unfaithful
60
Limit contact your
40 family
20.5
20 6 4.6 2 10.6 Ignore
2.6
0
spouse. In one of the variable “Unfaithful” 0.6% of the women said that they always face this
type of psychological abuse, 2.6% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of
In the variable “Limit contact your family” 4.6% of the women said that they always face
this type of psychological abuse, 20.5% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of
In the variable “Ignore” 0.2% of the women said that they always face this type of
psychological abuse, 10.6% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of violence,
Figure: 3
78.8
80 62.3
60
40 25.8 Say things
11.9 15.2 Not provide cash
20 6
0
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spouse. In one of the variable “say things” 0.6% of the women said that they always face this
In the variable “Not provide cash” 11.9% of the women said that they always face this
Physical violence
Figure: 4
78.1
80 61.6
56.3
60
31.136.4
40 Pull your hair
14.6
20 7.37.3 7.3
Slap
0
Beat
The above table shows the nature of physical violence faced by women through their
spouse. In one of the variable “pull your hair” 7.3% of the women said that they always face this
type of physical violence, 14.6% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of
In one of the variable “slap” 7.3% of the women said that they always face this type of
physical violence, 31.1% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of violence,
In the variable “Beat” 7.3% of the women said that they always face this type of physical
violence, 36.4% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of violence, 56.3% of the
women said that they never face such violence.
Figure: 5
90.1
87.4
100
50 8.67.9
4 2
0 Some weapon
Injuries
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The above table shows the nature of physical violence faced by women through their
spouse. In one of the variable “Some weapon” 0.4% of the women said that they always face this
type of physical abuse, 8.6% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of violence,
In the variable “Injuries” 0.2% of the women said that they always face this type of
physical abuse, 7.9% of the women said that they sometimes face such type of violence, 90.1%
of the women said that they never face such violence.
Conclusion
This researcher analyzed on the psychological and physical violence and coping
strategies among the rural married women. Analysis about the main eight problems related to
psychological abuses such as (i) Shout at you and insult (ii) Say does something to humiliate you
in front of others (iii) Makes threat to physically harm you (iv) Accuse you of being unfaithful
(v) Limit your contact with your family (vi) Ignore you (vii) Say things like, “if I can‟t have you,
then no one can” and (viii) Not provide you cash were analyzed detailed. Married women are
affected by these problems. The researcher also focused on physical violence. It was categorized
of the following issues. (i) Pull your hair (ii) Slap you (iii) Beat you (iv)Threaten you with some
weapon and (v) Cause injuries. Women are mostly affected in these types of violence in the
research.
Coping strategies and findings
Culture and social structure are one of the main parts on women‟s marital life. Based on
the results of the study, women use the following types of coping strategies and non coping
method.
S. No Coping strategies Percentage

1 Women become silent in times of any fight with their spouse. 19.8%
2 Seek legal help in times of over domestic violence. 1.3%
3 React to the domestic violence. 7.2%
Non coping method and social structure
S. No Non coping method Percentage

1 Tolerating everything due to our male dominating society 25.8%
2 Adjusting for the sake of children 7.9%
3 Lack of self awareness. 9.9%
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The overall study concluded the reasons for domestic violence are 1. Early marriage, that
is below 18. 2. Lack of Education 3. Poor economic status. 4. Lack of understanding 5. Lack of
frankness 6. No self awareness 7. Masculine domination 8.No care and love 9. Social structure
and culture 10. Patriarchal society, 11. Disinterest in marriage or forced marriage 12.
Irresponsible nature of men towards their family. 13. No support from the society and family
members to women. These are the main reason found from the study. We can solve such
problem to some extent by giving proper counseling programs based on dealing with family
issues; women should be self aware about the needs of the society and by her spouse. The need
of education should be stressed among the rural women. The concept of mutual respect should be
taught right from the childhood. By considering all these, we can change the lifestyle of the rural
women.
References
Alytia, A., et al. (2004). The social networks of women experiencing domestic violence.
American journal of community psychology, 34 (1), 95-109.
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A Study On Domestic Violence Coping Stra

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IRJMSH Vol 7 Issue 6 [Year 2016] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print)

A Study on Domestic Violence, Coping strategies between Rural Married

Experiencing domestic violence is considered a chronic and stressful life event. A

Domestic violence is a widespread problem throughout the developed and developing

 Most violence seems in lower class

Vernon J. Geberth (1998) defined “domestic violence defined as a pattern of behavior

Dr.A.B.Siddiqui (2013) Defines domestic violence as, “Socially unacceptable and

 Intimate terrorism - Approach gaining control one another by terror.

Domestic violence consist three basic phase:

 Tension building phase

Objectives of the study:

 To study the level of psychological abuse faced by women.

 To study the level of physical violence faced by women.

Area of the study:

Sample Frame and Size:

The research area was selected based on multistage random sampling. In

Data Analysis and Interpretation:

Coping strategies and findings

S. No Coping strategies Percentage

3 React to the domestic violence. 7.2%

Non coping method and social structure

S. No Non coping method Percentage

3 Lack of self awareness. 9.9%

Pande, Rekha. (2008). Narratives of domestic violence, Reconstructing masculinities and

Sonawat. (2001). Understanding families in India: A reflection of societal change.

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