Sunaina Mir
In addition to the countless forms of physical violence, females have also been subjected to psychological and emotional violence for ages. An arrogant and dominant male often considers it his personal right to abuse, demean, disrespect, suppress, threaten, and dishonour his wife without any reason. Although psychological violence may not leave physical marks on a woman’s body, this form of abuse crushes her inner soul, self-esteem, and spirit.
Continuous taunts, sarcasm, and verbal abuse severely affect the mental health of women. Just like a single spark can reduce a heap of dry grass to ashes, verbal abuse disintegrates, damages, and demeans the dignity, happiness, and mental peace of a wife or a daughter-in-law.
In our patriarchal society, little is spoken about the self-esteem, happiness, and honour of a woman. On the contrary, women are taught to adjust and compromise with the abusive behaviour of their husbands or fathers-in-law. Everyone rushes to advise the victimised woman by saying, “Things will get better,” or “Men are born to dominate; it’s not a big issue.” This toxic attitude of society is making women’s lives a living hell, where they are expected to burn silently in the fire of humiliation.
Every religion and law emphasizes the equal psychological and emotional status of women within a family. Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4 of the Quran) contains verses regarding the respect and dignity of women within the framework of Islamic teachings. Even Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in his last sermon, strongly emphasized the kind and respectful treatment of women in a family.
Maltreatment and continuous abuse from in-laws are pushing our brides towards suicide. Every day, we hear heartbreaking news of women ending their lives by jumping into rivers, hanging from ceiling fans, or setting themselves ablaze. Women are not only facing verbal and emotional abuse at home but also at workplaces, in public spaces, and on social media platforms.
Verbal abuse is a punishable offense under the Indian Penal Code:
Section 294 IPC: Penalizes obscene acts or words in public places. Offenders can face imprisonment for up to 3 months, a fine, or both.
Section 506 IPC: Deals with criminal intimidation. Threatening someone with injury to their person, reputation, or property is punishable by imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Section 509 IPC: Protects the modesty of women. Words, gestures, or acts intended to insult a woman’s modesty can lead to imprisonment of up to one year, a fine, or both.
A life with dignity is a fundamental right of every individual, regardless of gender. It’s a well-known fact that the happiness of a family depends on the health, emotional stability, and well-being of the woman in that family. If a woman is constantly hurt, humiliated, and disrespected, she cannot provide a peaceful and nurturing atmosphere to her children and loved ones.
Moreover, if a husband continuously abuses his wife, he is unknowingly setting an example for his children, teaching them that such behaviour is normal. An abusive man often forgets that one day his own daughter might face similar treatment in her marital home.
In conclusion, I want to emphasize: stop abusing women. It is deeply painful to live a life full of humiliation and emotional torment. |
