Abstract
Violence against women, especially spousal violence is a common phenomenon in India which is significantly increasing over the years. In the name of socialization, male dominated orthodox Indian society raises girls to endure male aggression without protest. Indian social norms within this conservative environment discourage women’s employment; consequently, employed women are subjected to more abuse compared to their unemployed counterparts. The current study, based on the National Family Health Survey data, documents the nature and extent of spousal violence against married employed women across job categories. The study reveals that the majority of employed women are skilled or unskilled manual workers, and most of them are subjected to spousal violence. Furthermore, higher category jobs do not protect women from spousal violence. Women’s empowerment, higher education and/or occupation compared to their partner, and partner’s alcoholism further induce cruelty on employed women. However, standard of living and a husband having a comparatively better job are found to reduce spousal violence.
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Notes
According to Indian custom in many places child marriage occurred but after marriage girls are not sent to their in-law’s house. After attaining puberty and being matured a separate consummation ceremony takes place to mark her departure for her conjugal home and married life, this ritual is called Gaona.
OBC means Other Backward Classes
SC means Scheduled Castes
ST means Scheduled Tribes.
Note: OBC, SC and ST are official terms used by Government of India for which certificates are issued by Government. By producing the certificate people of these categories get special advantage from Government of India.
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Appendix
Appendix
All the study variables are recoded as follows:
Religion: 1. Hindu, 2. Muslim & 3. Others |
Religion (multiple regression): 1. Non Muslim, 2. Muslim |
Caste: 1. Scheduled caste, 2. Scheduled tribe, 3. OBC* & 4. General |
Media: 1. No exposure, 2. Have exposure |
Household Structure: 1. Nuclear, 2. Non-Nuclear |
Wealth Index: 1. Low, 2 Medium & 3. High |
Marital duration (in years): 1. 0–5, 2. 6–12 & 3. 13–37 |
Respondent’s age at marriage (in years): 1. 2–14, 2. 15–26 & 3. 27–45 |
Education of wife & her partner: 1. Illiterate & low, 2. Medium & 3. Higher |
Occupation of wife & her partner: 1. Low, 2. Medium & 3. High |
Job category: 1.Unemployed, 2. Agricultural Employee, 3. Skilled/unskilled manual labour, 4.Service Worker, 5. Clerical workers & 6. Professional, Technical & Managerial workers |
Wife’s earning: 1. Husband won’t bring money, 2. Almost half & 3. More than husband |
Autonomy: 1. Low, 2. Medium, & 3. High |
Number of Children: 1. No children, 2. 1–5 children, 3. More than 5 children |
Husband Alcoholic: 1. No, 2.Yes |
Have Other Wife: 1. No, 2. Yes |
Illness of wife: 1. No, 2. Yes |
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Biswas, C.S. Spousal Violence against Working Women in India. J Fam Viol 32, 55–67 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-016-9889-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-016-9889-9