Domestic Violence and Its Impact On Children

IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS)
Volume 20, Issue 10, Ver. III (Oct. 2015) PP 01-04

e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845.
www.iosrjournals.org
Domestic violence and its impact on children

Ms.Disari Roy
UGC - Senior Research Fellow
Womens Studies Research Centre
University of Calcutta, INDIA
Abstract: Violence is an invasive force in the lives of children and children who grow up witnessing violence in
their homes are at risk for psychological, behavioral, and social maladjustment, the empirical basis for this has
not always been recognized. This article provides an insight into what constitutes domestic violence and its
harmful impact on young minds.
Key words: children, constitutional safeguards, domestic violence, effect, human rights.
I. Introduction
Defining Domestic Violence in the home
Violence is an act of aggression, usually in interpersonal interaction or relations. Violence is a coercive
mechanism to enforce ones will over another in order to prove or feel a sense of power. 1 Violence is seen as an
active endeavour by men to regain a sense of control over at least one element of their environment when they
feel out of control generally. Domestic violence is violence that takes place between people who are usually
bonded through law, blood or intimacy. Domestic violence refers to violence, intimidation, and harm
perpetrated by one person against another with who the person is in a relationship. Domestic violence occurs
within the home and poses a threat to the sanctity of familial relationships. Domestic violence involves a
sequence of frequent acts that escalate so that the perpetrator maintains authority and control over the victim.
The family is seen as the base of human survival, a place of safety, love, care and loyalty. Family is the
dominant ideology, through which a particular set of household and gender relationships are universalized and
naturalized. Domestic violence is a gender based violation of human rights having multi- dimensional
repercussions in the well- being of individuals in family and society. Domestic violence refers to assaultive and
coercive behaviors that adults use against their intimate partners2 and surveys show that domestic violence
against women is widespread3. Govind Kelkar situates violence against women in the socio-economic and
political context of power relations. 4Domestic violence is seen as a manifestation of patriarchal and hierarchical
social structure. It excludes women from political, business and religious leadership. Domestic violence is a
patriarchal mechanism for controlling women. It is defined to include all acts of physical, sexual, psychological
or economic violence that may be committed by a person who is a family member or by a person who has been
an intimate partner or spouse, irrespective of whether they lived together. In 1993, The United
Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women recognized domestic violence as one of
three contexts in which violence against women occurs. It is described as: physical, sexual and psychological
violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowryrelated violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, nonspousal violence and violence related to exploitation.
Forms of domestic violence
Domestic violence can take a number of forms including physical, sexual, economic, emotional and
verbal. Acts of physical violence by the husband against his wife includes pushing, shaking, slapping, arm
twisting, hair pulling, punching, kicking, dragging, beating, trying to choke or burn her on purpose, and
threatening her or attacking her with a weapon. Acts of sexual violence by the husband include physically
forcing the wife against her will to have sex or perform other sexual acts that she did not want to perform. Acts
of economic abuse includes controlling access to money and other resources. Acts of emotional violence by the
1
Kahol Yudhishtar. (2003). Violence Against Women. Reference Press, New Delhi, p.37-38.
Holden, George W 2003. "Children Exposed to Domestic Violence and Child Abuse: Terminology and Taxonomy." Clinical Child and
Family Psychology Review September 2003, Volume 6, Issue 3, pp 151-160
2
Kishor, Sunita, and Kiersten Johnson. 2004. Profiling Domestic Violence: A Multicountry Study ORC Macro.
Karlelar, Malavika. 1998.Domestic Violence, Economic and Political Weekly, July 4 -7, pp.1742-51.
DOI: 10.9790/0837-201030104
1 | Page

husband against the wife includes jealously, anger, intimidation, controlling, neglect, humiliation, threats,
isolation and verbal abuse. Verbal abuse might involve threats, name-calling, blaming, ridicule, disrespect, and
criticism. Victims of domestic violence may be trapped in violent situations through isolation, power and
control, insufficient financial resources, fear, shame or to protect children.
Victims of domestic violence may be trapped in violent situations through isolation, power and control,
insufficient financial resources, fear, shame or to protect children. The consequences of domestic violence are
substantial-in terms of physical injury, psychological and emotional distress, suicide, and substance abuse
among victims. Victims of domestic violence experience an increasingly diminished sense of control that leads
to powerlessness and helplessness psychological conditions that disenable individuals from leaving abusive
relationships. As a result of abuse, victims may experience physical disabilities, chronic health problems, mental
illness, limited finances, and poor ability to create healthy relationships. Victims may experience post-traumatic
stress disorder. Children in families in which such violence occurs have remained largely invisible as victims.
Children who live in a household with violence may continue the legacy of abuse when they reach adulthood. It
is very important to remember that a key component in raising an emotionally and developmentally healthy
child is not only ensuring the safety of the child but also the safety of the primary caretaker.
Effect of domestic violence on children
Domestic violence not only poses a direct threat to womens health, but also has adverse consequences
for the survival and well-being of children. According to Article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(1989), a child means every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to the
child, majority is attained earlier.
Children need a safe and secure home, free of violence, and parents that love and protect them. For too
many children, home is far from a safe haven. Every year, hundreds of millions of children are exposed to
domestic violence at home, and this has a powerful and profound impact on their lives and hopes for the future.
These children not only watch one parent violently assaulting another, they often hear the distressing sounds of
violence, or may be aware of it from many telltale signs. Children who witness domestic violence in their own
homes may see the abuser threaten the adult victim and even if they don't see the actual physical assault, they
are often exposed to the repercussion - broken furniture, food strewn about or smashed pictures. Such children
often become isolated, fearful and vulnerable. They are always worried for themselves, their mother, and their
siblings. They may feel insignificant and defenseless. The emotional responses of children who witness
domestic violence may include fear, shame, guilt and depression. Moreover children who grow up witnessing
their mother being battered by their father often suffer from psychological trauma and all this comes in the way
of normal healthy development. Physical responses may include stomachaches, headaches, and other related
ailments. The behavioral responses of children who witness domestic violence may include acting out,
withdrawal, unable to make friends, exhibit violent, risky or delinquent behaviour. Later in life, these children
are at greater risk for substance abuse, juvenile pregnancy and criminal behaviour than those raised in homes
without violence. Some studies suggest social development is also damaged. Some children lose the ability to
feel empathy for others. Others feel socially isolated, unable to make friends as easily due to social discomfort
or confusion over what is acceptable. Many studies have noted that children from violent homes exhibit signs of
more aggressive behaviour, such as bullying, and are up to three times more likely to be involved in fighting.
The children may exhibit signs of anxiety and have a short attention span which may result in poor school
performance and attendance. They may experience developmental delays in speech, motor or cognitive skills.
Infants and small children who are exposed to violence in the home experience so much added emotional stress
that it can harm the development of their brains and impair cognitive and sensory growth. Behaviour changes
can include excessive irritability, sleep problems, emotional distress, fear of being alone, immature behaviour,
and problems with toilet training and language development. Another ill impact is that children who are raised
in abusive homes may tend to believe that violence is an effectual means to settle any disagreement as well as to
dominate ones partner. Several studies also reveal that children who witness domestic violence are more likely
to be affected by violence as adults either as victims or perpetrators. What is even worse is that the children
may in future replicate the violence they witnessed as children. Boys who are eyewitness of their mothers abuse
are more likely to batter their female partners as adults than boys brought up in normal healthy environment.
Girls who witnessed their mothers abuse are more likely to believe that threats and violence are the norm in
relationships.
An additional issue is the impact on the child of the meaninglessness of the violence they witness or
experience. No one talks about what is happening and the mothers sense of helplessness leads her to dissociate
from the violence so that when it is not happening, she may act as if theres nothing wrong. So the childs
thoughts and feelings about the experience become fragmented, disorganized and they are unable to make sense
of it. Witnessing violence affects childrens view of the world and of themselves, their ideas about the meaning
DOI: 10.9790/0837-201030104
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and purpose of life, their expectations for future happiness and their moral development. This disrupts childrens
progression through age-appropriate developmental tasks.
Constitutional safeguards for children
Children have certain special rights and legal entitlements that are being acknowledged nationally and
internationally. The constitution of India recognized the rights of children for the first time and included several
articles dealing with their liberty, livelihood, and development of childhood, non-discrimination in educational
spheres, compulsory and free education and prohibition of their employment in factories, mines and hazardous
industries. The Constitution, promulgated in 1950, encompasses most rights included in the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child as Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy.
Constitutional Guarantees that are meant specifically for children include:
Right to free and compulsory elementary education for all children in the 6-14 year age group (Article 21
A)
Right to be protected from any hazardous employment till the age of 14 years (Article 24)
Right to be protected from being abused and forced by economic necessity to enter occupations unsuited to
their age or strength (Article 39(e))
Right to equal opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and
dignity and guaranteed protection of childhood and youth against exploitation and against moral and
material abandonment (Article 39 (f))
Right to early childhood care and education to all children until they complete the age of six years (Article
45)
Besides, Children also have rights as equal citizens of India, just as any other adult male or female:
Right to equality (Article 14)

Right against discrimination (Article 15)
Right to personal liberty and due process of law (Article 21)
Right to being protected from being trafficked and forced into bonded labour (Article 23)
Right of minorities for protection of their interests (Article 29)
Right of weaker sections of the people to be protected from social injustice and all forms of exploitation
(Article 46)
Right to nutrition and standard of living and improved public health (Article 47)
Way forward
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, irrespective of our nationality, place of residence,
sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to
our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible. While
all children have the right to enjoy fundamental human rights, their situations are not uniform. At the same time,
childhood and the range of childrens needs and rights are one whole, and must be addressed holistically. A lifecycle approach must be maintained. Children's rights are the human rights of children with particular attention to
the rights of special protection and care afforded to minors. This includes their right to association with
both parents, human identity as well as the basic needs for food, universal state-paid education, health care and
criminal laws appropriate for the age and development of the child, equal protection of the child's civil rights,
and
freedom
from discrimination on
the
basis
of
the
child's race, gender, national
origin, religion, disability, colour or ethnicity. There is no place for violence in a childs life. It is important to
raise awareness on the devastating effect of domestic violence on children as we know that much can be
changed by bringing this problem into the open. The message to all must be that domestic violence is damaging
to everyone, including children who are exposed to it, and that it can be stopped. Legislation and policies must
reinforce the message that domestic violence is a crime that perpetrators will be punished and victims protected.
These policies must focus on the protection of children and address the impact of violence in the home on
children. In order to respond to the overwhelming issues associated with domestic violence, child welfare
professionals need to understand these issues and know how to identify them as well as assess and provide
treatment to children and youth affected by domestic violence.
DOI: 10.9790/0837-201030104
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References
[1].
[2].
[3].
[4].
Kahol Yudhishtar. (2003). Violence Against Women. Reference Press, New Delhi, p.37-38.
Holden, George W 2003. "Children Exposed to Domestic Violence and Child Abuse: Terminology and Taxonomy." Clinical Child
and Family Psychology Review September 2003, Volume 6, Issue 3, pp 151-160
Kishor, Sunita, and Kiersten Johnson. 2004. Profiling Domestic Violence: A Multicountry Study ORC Macro.
Karlelar, Malavika. 1998.Domestic Violence, Economic and Political Weekly, July 4-7, pp.1742-51.
Bibliography
[1]. Bhattacharya Rinki.(ed.) (2004). Behind Closed Doors Domestic Violence in Indi. Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi
[2]. Holden, George W. (2003). "Children Exposed to Domestic Violence and Child Abuse: Terminology and Taxonomy." Clinical
Child and Family Psychology Review
[3]. Kahol Yudhishtar. (2003). Violence Against Women. Reference Press, New Delhi
[4]. Karlelar, Malavika. 1998.Domestic Violence, Economic and Political Weekly, July 4 -7, pp.1742-51
[5]. Kishor, Sunita and Kiersten Johnson. 2004. Profiling Domestic Violence A Multi-Country Study. Calverton, Maryland: ORC
Macro
[6]. Mohanty Bedabati. (2005). Violence Against Women: An Analysis of Contemporary Realities. Kanishka Publishers, New Delhi
DOI: 10.9790/0837-201030104
4 | Page

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IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS)

Volume 20, Issue 10, Ver. III (Oct. 2015) PP 01-04

Domestic violence and its impact on children

Domestic violence and its impact on children

Domestic violence and its impact on children

Right to equality (Article 14)

Domestic violence and its impact on children

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