MIND SPACE (READING FOR INSPIRATION)

MODERN SLAVERY AND MARITAL DISHARMONY
- Bagampiriyal

Gender discrimination and lack of autonomy affect a girl from birth. In most families decisions about how long to stay in school, who to marry and how to earn a livelihood are made for adolescent girls and young women not by them. Based in a prejudiced belief that women have limited economic value, every decision made for her across her life span further limits her ability to gain economic independence.

Education has been regarded as the most significant instrument for changing women’s subjugated position in the society. One of the direct expectations from educational development in a society is the reduction in the inequality among individuals and that is why education was included as the basic right of every human being in the Universal Declaration of human rights. Domestic violence or any form of abusive behavior occurs when one family member attempts to dominate another.

Most women in an educated society are also being abused by their intimate partners. When women get habituated to the nature of men, they try to avoid their husband by interacting with children. Marital disharmony is more found in economically independent females. Psychological abuse is more found in educated women the reason being going out without permission even for genuine reasons or not being a good wife in general. Acceptance of mistreatment by educated women due to pressure of their own parents and community mutes the protective influence of higher education. A higher socio-economic status gives a protective influence but actually it did not have any impact on violence or psychological abuse. Abused women never revolted back and were waiting for their husband to change and felt tolerance was important in the relationship and for family welfare. Male dominance and a male partner abusing a female partner has become a socially accepted norm.

Psychological abuses are difficult to be quantified and factored into sentencing and compensation decisions. Modern slavery is not simply a human rights or law enforcement issue but having millions of women and girls prone to exploitation is an impediment to economic growth and shared prosperity. Slavery in all forms should come to an end, it is a disgrace to humanity. There is a need for social revolution for this is a matter of mental hygiene public health concern. Empowerment of women does not seem an effective solution to this problem. Indian women have mastered anything and everything but still there is a long way to achieve equal status in the minds of Indian men. Educate all the children in the society.