Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Domestic violence (DV) in India is one of the most alarming issues that is
experienced by over one-third (36.6%) of non-Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (non
SC/ST) women and nearly half (48%) of Scheduled Caste (SC) women (ages 15-49). DV
and women’s empowerment are historically interlinked. The patriarchy embedded within
social-cultural norms along with economic capability deprivation takes away the freedom
of SC women to enjoy bodily safety in public and private spaces. Despite Constitutional
measures, SC women continue to face violence-induced capability deprivation due to
discrimination at three levels: caste, class, and gender. DV against SC women is an
understudied area; there are scarcely any studies on DV in this population using national
data. This research used data from the National Family Health Survey-III 2005-2006 (N =
12,069-SC women and N = 45,390- non-SC/ST women). Descriptive statistics and
logistic regression were used to examine DV trends amongst SC and non-SC/ST women.
Contrary to the study’s hypothesis, having better empowerment (household-autonomy,
healthcare decision-making, sexual-autonomy) increased the likelihood of women
experiencing DV. However, the hypothesis relating to economic empowerment and
autonomy was supported showing a reduced likelihood of DV. SC women were
empowered when they had the capability to earn wages; however, they had no
instrumental freedom to spend their own earnings. Similarly, empowerment indicators
were shown to impact the likelihood of justifying the violence shaping women’s gender norms and attitudes. When compared with non-SC/ST, SC women who have economic
and healthcare autonomy had lower odds of justifying DV. Exposure to DV in childhood,
early marriage, and husbands’ alcohol abuse significantly enhanced the likelihood of DV.
Across most of the indicators, the intensity of DV amongst SC women was relatively
higher than non-SC/ST women. The findings emphasize the need for social work practice
and policy to focus not only on empowering women in terms on economic and material
well-being through ownership, but also assessing if this ownership have instrumental
value in practice without the threat of DV. Future research can enhance understanding of
DV by examining social exclusion, socio-cultural patriarchy, and the intersectionality of
caste, class, gender, and other individualist and community factors.2 year
