From fear to justice: Gendered struggles against domestic violence

Domestic violence against women is not a new problem in India, and it remains prevalent across societies worldwide. Traditionally, such violence was not taken seriously by people, who considered it a private matter rather than a public issue. Over time, however, growing feminist movements across the globe have challenged this perception, emphasising that violence against women is a serious social problem rather than a private matter. As a form of gender violence, it is now widely recognized as a violation of human rights that has serious social and economic consequences for all societies around the world. In cases of domestic violence, fear functions as a powerful mechanism of control that enables the abuser to dominate his partner. The Fear of economic insecurity, family shame, child care responsibility, and the failure of institution meant to provide protection which fuels the continuation of violence secretly. At the same time, it is the courage of survivors, often strengthened by social support that enables them to seek justice. This paper seeks to analyse how fear is used as a tool of domination to silence victims while also examining the extent of their faith in both formal and informal institution responsible for delivering justice.