VELAMMAL VIDYALAYA ANNEXURE

ENGLISH PROJECT TERM - II

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A REPORT BY:

KHARNIKA GR
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that ALS English Core Term II project

report on the topic “DOMESTIC VIOLENCE” is a
bonafide work done, successfully completed by
“Kharnika GR” of class 12, “Velammal Vidyalaya
Annexure” for the fulfilment of ALS project work for the
year 2022-’23.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This report was an amazing opportunity to gain insight

into a completely new topic and work with others. I have
been privileged enough to have numerous people who
have helped me through the process and achieve a
completed product.

Firstly, I would like to thank our Principal

Mrs.Kanchanamala for giving me the chance to work on
this English project regarding the topic “Domestic
Violence”.

Next, I would like to extend my gratitude to my

English teacher Mrs.Celene Radhika for her guidance and
encouragement which played a pivotal role in successfully
completing this project.

I would also like to thank my friends and family

for always lending a helping hand and giving their
thoughts and suggestions on this project.
 OBJECTIVE

The main motive of the report is to bring awareness to the

general Indian public about an unattended topic
‘Domestic Violence’ and its harsh effects in our society.

The objective of the project is to make the reader

understand the following phenomena:
- Types of domestic abuse
- Causes of domestic violence
- Effects of domestic violence
- Legal ways to approach
- Reference to the lesson “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers”
- Best ways of handling domestic abuse
 ACTION PLAN

GOAL STEPS NEEDED TO HOW TO

ACHIEVE THE IMPLEMENT THIS
GOAL
To give people a clear Find reliable Research the internet
understanding about resources and hard for various examples
domestic violence and facts to bring that help explain the
its effects. awareness regarding concept in a simple
the topic. way.
To encourage To present law based Use the internet to
individuals to come consequences of find real life legal
forward and help domestic violence to articles.
victims in need as trigger confidence in
well as take necessary handling such
precautions to prevent situations.
oneself from
becoming a victim of
such abuse.
 PROJECT REPORT

WHAT IS DOMESTIC ABUSE?

According to the United Nations, domestic abuse, also called

"domestic violence" or "intimate partner violence", can be
defined as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used
to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological
actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This
includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize,
manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone.
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual
orientation, religion, or gender. It can occur within a range of
relationships including couples who are married, living together
or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic
backgrounds and education levels.
 RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF ABUSE

Does your partner…

- Embarrass or make fun of you in front of your friends or

family?
- Put down your accomplishments?
- Make you feel like you are unable to make decisions?
- Use intimidation or threats to gain compliance?
- Tell you that you are nothing without them?
- Treat you roughly—grab, push, pinch, shove or hit you?
- Call you several times a night or show up to make sure you
are where you said you would be?
- Use drugs or alcohol as an excuse for saying hurtful things
or abusing you?
- Blame you for how they feel or act?
- Make you feel like there is “no way out” of the
relationship?
- Prevent you from doing things you want – like spending
time with friends or family?
- Try to keep you from leaving after a fight or leave you
somewhere after a fight to “teach you a lesson”?
Do you...

- Sometimes feel scared of how your partner may behave?

- Constantly make excuses to other people for your partner’s
behaviour?
- Believe that you can help your partner change if only you
changed something about yourself?
- Try not to do anything that would cause conflict or make
your partner angry?
- Always do what your partner wants you to do instead of
what you want?
- Stay with your partner because you are afraid of what your
partner would do if you broke up?

If any of these things are happening in your relationship, talk to

someone. Without help, the abuse will continue. Making that
first call to seek help is a courageous step.
 UNDERSTANDING TYPES OF ABUSE

The Power & Control wheel is a particularly helpful tool in

understanding the overall pattern of abusive and violent
behaviours, which are used by an abuser to establish and
maintain control over his/her partner or any other victim in the
household. Very often, one or more violent incidents may be
accompanied by an array of these other types of abuse. They are
less easily identified, yet firmly establish a pattern of
intimidation and control in the relationship.

Emotional Abuse:
Emotional abuse includes undermining a person's sense of
self-worth through constant criticism; belittling one's abilities;
name-calling or other verbal abuse; damaging a partner's
relationship with the children; or not letting a partner see friends
and family.

- Calls you names, insults you or continually criticises you.

- Does not trust you and acts in a jealous or possessive
manner.
- Tries to isolate you from family or friends.
 - Monitors where you go, whom you call and with whom
you spend your time.
- Does not want you to work.
- Controls finances or refuses to share money.
- Punishes you by withholding affection.
- Expects you to ask permission.
- Threatens to hurt you, the children, your family or your
pets.
- Humiliates you in any way.

Psychological abuse:
Involves causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm
to self, partner or children; destruction of pets and property;
“mind games”; or forcing isolation from friends, family, school
and/or work.

Financial or economic abuse:

Involves making or attempting to make a person financially
dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources,
withholding access to money, and/or forbidding attendance at
school or employment.

Physical abuse:
Involves hurting or trying to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking,
burning, grabbing, pinching, shoving, slapping, hair-pulling,
biting, denying medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use,
or using other physical force. You may be in a physically
abusive relationship if your partner:

- Damages property when angry (throws objects, punches

walls, kicks doors, etc.).
- Pushes, slaps, bites, kicks or chokes you.
- Abandons you in a dangerous or unfamiliar place.
- Scares you by driving recklessly.
- Uses a weapon to threaten or hurt you.
- Forces you to leave your home.
- Traps you in your home or keeps you from leaving.
- Prevents you from calling police or seeking medical
attention.
- Hurts your children.

Stalking:
Involves any pattern of behavior that serves no legitimate
purpose and is intended to harass, annoy, or terrorize the victim.
Typical stalking activities include repeated telephone calls,
unwelcome letters or gifts by mail, surveillance at work, home
and other places that the victim is known to frequent. Stalking
usually escalates.
 CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

There is no uniform or single reason that leads to domestic

violence. It is a combination of various sociological/behavioral,
historical, religious, and cultural factors that lead to perpetration
of domestic violence against women.

1. Sociological/Behavioral Factors: The sociological,

behavioural and cultural factors include factors like anger
issues/aggressive attitude, poverty/economic hardship,
difference in status, controlling/dominating nature, drug
addiction, upbringing and psychological instability
(bipolarism, depression, stress, etc.) among others. Neglect
of conjugal responsibilities due to extra-marital affairs or
lack of trust also contributes to domestic violence.

2. Historical Factors: Historical factors can be traced back to

the inherent evil of patriarchy and superiority complex that
has prevailed for centuries among men.

3. Religious Factors: A subtle form of domination on

women, if not direct and glaring, reflects in the religious
 sanctifications. This also contributes to perpetration of
domestic violence against women.

4. Cultural Factors: Cultural Factors leading to domestic

violence include the desire for a male child. This obsession
resulting from the lack of awareness and inherent male
superiority leads to perpetration of domestic violence
against women.This is not an exhaustive list of factors and
the motivations or triggers behind domestic violence may
vary.

5. Dowry: Dowry is a form of socio-cultural factor. But, it

becomes important to separately mention it because of the
rampant domestic violence cases resulting from illegal
demand of dowry. This was realised by the Parliament also
because dowry- related domestic violence has been made a
separate head in the scope of abuse resulting in domestic
violence under the Domestic Violence Act.
 CONSEQUENCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic Violence against women can cause long term and

short term physical and mental harm. The domestic violence
against women also affects the children in the family causing
long-lasting impressions on a child’s vulnerable memory.

Short Term Consequences: The short-term physical effects of

violence can include minor injuries or serious conditions. They
can include bruises, cuts, broken bones, or injuries to organs and
other parts inside the body. Some physical injuries are difficult
or impossible to see without scans, x-rays, or other tests done by
a doctor or nurse. The long-emotional and verbal abuse might
affect the woman’s mood and children’s mood in their day to
day activities & might also reduce the efficiency

Long-term Consequences: Violence against women, including

sexual or physical violence, is linked to many long-term health
problems. Long-term mental health effects of violence against
women can include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression
or Anxiety. This can further lead to the problem of substance
abuse and drug addiction. Sexual violence can result in
irreparable injury to sexual violence and a loss of self-worth
 LEGALITIES REGARDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence has been defined by the Protection of Women

from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. Prior to the Domestic
Violence Act, the law governing cases of domestic violence in
India were governed by Section 498-A of the IPC. There are two
shortcomings of Section 498-A. First being the absence of any
provision providing relief or compensation for the victim under
this provision. Secondly, section 498-A was applicable only to
married women. To overcome these defects the domestic
violence Act, 2005 was enacted by the Centre. The reliefs
provided by the Domestic Violence Act include shelter, medical
facilities, protection order, compensation order, etc.

What amounts to Domestic Violence against women?

According to the domestic violence Act, Domestic Violence
means harming or injuring a woman in a domestic relationship.
It includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and economic
abuse within its ambit. The abuse under the Domestic Violence
Act includes not only actual abuse but also the threat of abuse.
Any harassment resulting from unlawful dowry demands to the
woman or her relatives is also covered by the definition under
the Domestic Violence Act. The Domestic Violence Act
primarily protects wives or female live-in partners from
domestic violence at the hands of the husband or male live-in
partner including his relatives. Section 2(a) of the DOMESTIC
violence Act(1) defines “aggrieved person” as any woman who
is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the perpetrator
and who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic
violence. The Domestic Violence Act not only covers those
women who are or have been in a relationship with the abuser
but it also covers those women who have lived together in a
shared household and are related by consanguinity, marriage or
through a relationship in the nature of marriage or adoption
including mothers, sisters or widows.

Whom to report a Domestic Violence case to?

Under the Domestic Violence Act, any woman who is aggrieved

or anyone who has been a witness to the act can approach the
nearest Police Station, Protection Officer and a Service Provider.
The court can appoint a protection officer to enforce its orders.
The protection officer is a special post created to serve as a
liaison between victims of domestic violence and the system. r
One can also file a complaint directly with the magistrate for
obtaining orders of reliefs under the Domestic Violence Act.
Anyone who provides information about the offence committed
to the concerned authorities is absolved of any civil/criminal
liability.

Post the complaint, the court is required to instate a hearing

within three days of the complaint being filed.
If the court finds that the complaint is genuine, the court passes
a protection order

A complaint can also be filed under Section 498-A of the India

Penal Code which recognizes the offence of matrimonial cruelty
and prescribes criminal penalty.
 BREAK THE CYCLE

If you're in an abusive situation, you might recognize this

pattern:

1. Your abuser threatens violence.

2. Your abuser strikes.
3. Your abuser apologises, promises to change and offers
gifts.
4. The cycle repeats itself.

The longer you stay in an abusive relationship, the greater the

physical and emotional toll. You might become depressed and
anxious, or you might begin to doubt your ability to take care of
yourself. You might feel helpless or paralyzed.

To escape such a situation create a safety plan

Leaving an abuser can be dangerous. Consider taking these

precautions:
- Call a women's shelter or domestic violence hotline for
advice. Make the call at a safe time — when the abuser isn't
around — or from a friend's house or other safe location.
- Pack an emergency bag that includes items you'll need
when you leave, such as extra clothes and keys. Leave the
bag in a safe place. Keep important personal papers, money
 and prescription medications handy so that you can take
them with you on short notice.
- Know exactly where you'll go and how you'll get there.

REFERENCE TO THE LESSON

“AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS”

Aunt Jennifer's marriage may be physically abusive, which is

implied in the description of Aunt Jennifer as being terrified. At
the time the poem was written, domestic violence was often
treated as a private, family matter and not spoken about directly.
The way the poem handles Aunt Jennifer's suffering is
consistent with this social norm. However, it is not made
explicit, meaning the marriage may also be read as only
controlling and emotionally abusive rather than physically
abusive. Aunt Jennifer is unhappy in it, though she does not
complain, as far as the speaker reports. However, the terror of
her marriage bleeds into all aspects of her life, even when her
husband is not present. Major feminist critiques of marriage,
especially in the middle of the 20th century, included the
patriarchal nature of traditional marriage. A wife was expected
to meekly submit to her husband, and society refused to address
the problem of domestic violence.
 REFLECTIONS

1. What did you learn from this project that you didn't know
before?
I learnt many things regarding this cruel crime that is happening
all over the world today. This certainly brought upon a lot of
analysing and understanding of the topic and prepared me on
how to handle such relationships in the future.

2. Did your project meet your standards?

Yes. I have done complete justice to the objectives that I had
chosen in the beginning of the project report. I have done my
best in making the reader understand all aspects of this issue and
creating awareness regarding domestic violence.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.myadvo.in/blog/domestic-violence-against-women

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-dep
th/domestic-violence/art-20048397

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse

https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Aunt-Jennifers-Tigers/themes/