Domestic Violence on Married Women in India: A Multidimensional Analysis

Abstract

Present study explores the breadth and depth of domestic violence on married women in India in a multidimensional framework among different religious communities and social castes. It also analyses the factors responsible for multidimensional domestic violence on married women. It is based on the nationally representative NFHS unit level data of the latest two rounds. Alkire -Foster methodology is used to measure multidimensional domestic violence and an ordered logistic regression has been performed to analyse the factors influencing domestic violence. Multidimensional domestic violence as well as the degree of domestic violence on married women has reduced considerably irrespective of religion and social castes in India during 2005-06 to 2015-16. But still in 2015-16, 39.51 million women were found to be the victims of multidimensional domestic violence which is one-third of the married women. The victims mostly suffered from physical violence. The percentage share of victims was higher among Hindu community than that of Muslim community as well as among Scheduled Caste compared to other social castes. Women belonging to lower strata of social caste, lower wealth class and those experiencing higher marital control are more subjected to domestic violence. Increase in the education level of the couple can reduce domestic violence. Thus, the government should take initiative to enhance the economic status of the women to overcome the problem of domestic violence.