VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

Violence against women is partly a result of gender relations that assumes men to be superior to women. Given the subordinate status of women, much of gender violence is considered normal and enjoys social sanction. Manifestations of violence include physical aggression, such as blows of varying intensity, burns, attempted hanging, sexual abuse and rape, psychological violence through insults, humiliation, coercion, blackmail, economic or emotional threats, and control over speech and actions. Cultural and social factors are interlinked with the development and propagation of violent behaviour. Deaths of women is extreme outcome of ill treatment, psychological abuse, or physical violence suffered by women. On the other hand domestic violence suffered by women on a regular basis in the form of psychological or physical abuse goes unreported. Very rarely do women themselves file police cases against the ill treatment meted out to them. These expressions of violence take place in a man-woman relationship within the family, state and society. Worldwide governments and organizations actively work to combat violence against women through a variety of programs.