How Survivors of Domestic Violence Seek Legal and Social Support Against Their Abusers in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra State in India: An Exploratory Study
This exploratory study sought to gather detailed information about women’s experiences surviving and rehabilitating from domestic violence. This information was used to identify factors that encourage survivors to stay in their relationships and factors that enable them to seek legal and social support against their abusive partners. Qualitative data was gathered through a series of in-depth interviews and panel discussions with survivors of domestic violence in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra (India). This data was analyzed with guidance from Indian feminist theory, local professionals, and contributing research mentors. Further examination of national survey data, past research on domestic violence in Indian contexts, and broader social critique from native academics and activists were used to determine the social, cultural, and religious forces that have contributed to normalizing and perpetuating domestic violence in India. This study was conducted in conjunction with Snehalaya, a non-government organization based in Ahmednagar primarily assisting underprivileged women, children and LGBT communities suffering from poverty and the commercial sex industry
