The 25th of November is observed as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a day dedicated to raising awareness about women being subjected to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence.
The date of 25th November was selected as it marks the anniversary of the assassination of the Mirabal sisters, three sisters who were heavily involved in the resistance against the dictator of the Dominican Republic, Rafael Trujillo.
32% of married women in India report being physically, sexually, or emotionally abused in their marriage, this number is likely higher due to many women being afraid to speak out against their husbands, who they highly depend on.
One of the biggest causes of domestic violence is toxic masculinity and patriarchy at large. Toxic masculinity means the role men are forced to inhabit due to culture and social pressure, which mainly include toughness, anti-femininity, and power.
Men are nurtured into being caregivers, compassionate or emotional. They are never taught to express vulnerability or emotions. The only emotions accepted in men are anger and violence. This leads to men dishing out violent methods while dealing with relationship issues. In fact, it is so prevalent that sporting events have been linked to a rise in domestic violence cases. While extreme fandom is not only limited to men, most women are also passionate about certain celebrities and sports as well. However, rarely do they extend to violence at such a large scale.
It has also been found that men who tend to view women as objects, meaning people existing solely to fulfil their sexual pleasures and fantasies, are more likely to be violent. This is because patriarchy and toxic masculine culture encourage men to view women as being solely catered to fulfilling men’s needs and desires.
However, toxic masculinity is not only harmful to women but men as well. Male suicide rate is higher than women because men are less likely to seek out help. Men also tend to underreport being sexually or physically abused by their spouses or anyone else, as they fear being undervalued.
One of the most prominent speakers on toxic masculinity has been Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name bell hooks. In her book, Will to Change, hook states that men need not abandon the concept of masculinity but redefine it. She further argues that men need to challenge presumptive gender roles and face and critique patriarchy directly.
Child Help Foundation (CHF) is committed to ending domestic violence by empowering women. Through its Gender Equality programme, CHF has been able to reach out to 1,29,967 people, which includes POSH-POCSO training, self-defence classes, gendercide awareness sessions and many more.
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