Alcoholism and Domestic Violence in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Definition of domestic violence can be broad or focused, amorphous, or targeted. The reason that the definition of violence is important is because is shapes the response. (eg) a community response, whether it be legal reform or the provision of support service, is shaped by a particular understanding of what constitutes domestic violence and whether it is to be conceptualized  as an violence of rights. The definition implied by the law is especially critical as it defines standards and thus impacts broader social-perception  of the problem.

Elements of the definition that need to be considered then are the between the perpetrator and the abused, the norms of acceptable behavior, and the specific acts, that constitute  violence. A frequent perception of domestic violence against women is that it is limited to physical harm perpetrated on adult women with in a marital relationship. While this understanding may capture a large universe of experience of women, it is predicated on the assumption that women primarily live in in clear families to single parent families. Moreover women may be in an established relationship or in the process of separation or divorce. Violence is often not restricted to the current husband but may extend to boyfriends, former, husbands and other family members such as parents siblings, and in-laws. A definition that acknowledges these multiple possibilities would lead to interventions that are more inclusive of the experiences of all women.

Definitions  of domestic violence rest upon not only the nature of the relationship between the perpetrator  and the victim but also upon norms of acceptable behavior. There is considerable difference of opinion regarding which behaviors or manifestations should be considered violence as well as the level of intensity and frequency required to label a relationship as violent. Another contentious issue is how to evaluate the intent of the act, why the act was initiated and whose view should determine this.

The social construct surroundings the ideal  “good woman” clearly sets which verbal and physical assaults translate into a nation of violence. Thus wife beating is not seems as an excessive reaction if the women gives cause for jealousy or does not perform her “wifely” duties ad equitably, such as having meals ready on time or adequately caring for children. This is further complicated a common belief that violent act are an expression of love and merely desire to help of the subject be a better person.

An assessment showed that domestic violence reduced to one tenth of pervious. Levels after alcoholism treatment. 3 to 45% of household expenditure is spent on alcohol. Use of alcohol increases indebtedness and reduces the ability to pay for food and education.