Abusive yet affectionate husbands: Conflicting perceptions of domestic violence experiences of wives living in urban slum communities of Mumbai, India

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONThe prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) is a threat to public and reproductive health globally. As per National Crime Record Bureau statistics, violence by the husband or his relatives accounted for one-third of the total crimes against women in India. Between 2010 and 2015, there was a reported annual growth rate 4.11% of crimes against women and in Maharashtra, it was recorded 2.77% total growth in five years.1 National Family Health Survey 3 and 4 data reveal that spousal violence was decreased from 30.7% to 21.4% in Maharashtra over a period of 10 years. 2Several Interventional and national cross-sectional studies have shown the prevalence of violence, its risk factors and consequences on the overall health of women.3-14 Very few qualitative studies discussed the relationship dynamics between the abusive husband and wife. [15][16][17][18][19][20] Studies from developing countries demonstrated that the women experienced a conflict of emotions and developed coping mechanisms. They did not want to ABSTRACT Background: The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) contributed to reproductive health problems worldwide. Data on coping mechanism of women within domestic violence (DV) were unexplored. Methods: The objective of the paper was to explore the perceived cause of DV and coping mechanism of women who reported affectionate nature of husband. A community-based intervention study was carried out in urban slums to screen women with an unmet need for family planning. Women reported of DV in the past one year preceding the survey were counselled on marital communication and family planning methods. During these sessions, women shared their views on the cause of DV and their coping mechanism. Results: The narratives of the sessions threw light into the cause of DV, which includes decision-making, the influence of significant others and fewer time couples spent with each other. Affectionate nature and violence by husbands created a conflict of emotions. Fear of loss of the relationship and socio-cultural attitude made them remain in the relationship. Conclusions: The wives develop an emotional attachment with their partners and do not want to leave the relationship. They create a space within the abusive relationship; enjoy limited functionings, a bonus of affections and demoting violence from the partner without taking a chance to lose the relationship.

Why do they decide to stay? Experience of Indian women surviving intimate partner violence

“…Though they encounter abuse from their spouse, they continue to love them because of these constructions and belief that their partner is inherently good and loving, except accepting that they are abusive. Sebastian et al (2017) report that women victims of domestic violence manifest affection towards their spouses even though they are abusive. Also, this result reiterates the traumatic bonding theory of Dutton and Painter (1993), which asserts the psychosocial bond of the victims with the abuser due to the power imbalance between them.…”