Indian women still trapped in vicious circle of violence: Transmitting it from generation to generation

Violence against women is a major public-health problem throughout the world and a serious violation of fundamental rights. The gender gap in the attitudes towards violence against women is shaped by attitudes towards gender. In India, traditional gender-role attitudes are associated with greater acceptance of violence against women. Therefore, this study attempts to understand the effect of childhood exposure to parental violence on spousal violence against women on men and women separately and also to see differentials in this relationship under different settings. The present study is based on the data of National Family Health Survey of India. Exposure to childhood violence was categorized into different levels depending upon the exposure in either single partner or both the partners. Based on these variables various assessments were made with the help of different statistical tools. Explicitly, findings reflect the impact of childhood exposure to parental violence in shaping conformation to the set gender role norms.Childhood exposures by husband or wife alone also have impact on spousal violence but among them women’s exposure has more significant impact.Given the apparent pervasiveness of the problem of childhood exposure to parental violence in India, remains an important area for social, legal and public policy concern.