Just 42% of women think that forced sexual intercourse is a form of violence, according to a new survey of 500 married women in 10 cities by online parenting platform Momsporesso and the United States Agency for International Development’s SHOPS Plus project.
When asked about what constituted domestic violence, over 50% of respondents said they considered verbal and physical abuse as a form of domestic violence. While 70% said they will talk to their family if they face domestic violence, 80% of respondents with kids said they will not seek police help if they are facing domestic violence at home.
“Women need to realise that domestic violence is not a personal matter,” says Ohri. “Many women with kids cling on to the hope that even if their partner is abusive, they will tolerate it if he takes care of the children but they don’t realise that he is being a terrible parent by putting the kids in a violent situation and it is safer and healthier for children to be taken out of that situation of conflict.”
The survey also revealed a lack of awareness about contraception denial as a form of intimate partner violence, with close to 70% participants saying they did not consider the denial of the use of contraceptives as a form of violence, especially when the husband decided the use of contraception. “Denial of contraception, which disempowers women and violates their reproductive rights, is a form of violence that has not received the attention it deserves," said Sangita Patel, USAID-India Health Office Director.
Four out of five (84%) respondents said that the decision to use contraception was taken jointly by both the husband and the wife. About 35% were not using any kind of contraception but one-fourth said it was a matter of concern for them. Around 32% also did not know where to seek help from regarding use of contraception. Those who did, mostly turned to relatives and friends and less than 35% were aware of helplines and online forums.
Further, many respondents were ignorant about contraceptive methods for women. While 73% were familiar with male condoms and 56% with oral contraceptives, only 8% knew about female condoms. In addition, 45% were aware of emergency contraceptive pills and 30% of intrauterine devices.
“It is ironic that the onus of using the contraceptive is on women but the choice is not with her,” says Parul Ohri, chief editor, Momspresso. “Women are taught that their primary duty is being a mother, so because of this social conditioning she herself feels guilty if she is even thinking about contraception.” Ohri added that this social conditioning was a major factor in women not questioning and speaking up about the denial of contraception “Women need to realise that being denied any choice about their body or health is a form of violence and violation,” she says. “There needs to be more awareness that contraception is as much a right as any other decision regarding their body.”