We need to keep in mind that all these studies are solely conducted with a preconceived notion that only wife is the victim and the husband the abuser, so no matter whether the researchers take up the gender-neutral definition of the issue, they eventually end up in the same conclusion. Like the data presented above that shows the data collected in one’s lifetime and hence doesn’t represent anything to portray the real problem of domestic violence in India.

In 2011, the UN report on women (full report can be viewed on http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/Worldswomen/WW_full%20report_color.pdf  ) conducted a study on violence against women, on different parameters. But here too, it was considered that only women are subjected to violence and the percentage was measured from a sample group. This study never tried to capture domestic violence data as such.

The chart is shown in this report Fig. 6.1 and 6.2 (Proportion of women experiencing physical violence (irrespective of the perpetrator) at least once in their lifetime and in the last 12 months, 1995–2006 (latest available)) on pg. 131 of the report shows 20% of ever-married women experienced violence. So this data again includes violence happened against a woman in her lifetime and can’t be considered as a frequent problem. Similarly, this data completely ignores the violence faced by men.

Also, the same report is silent on ‘Indian women facing intimate partner sexual violence at least in their lifetime or within last 12 months of reporting period only says that this is not a major problem in India as otherwise projected (Fig 6.6).

Many international experts have commented on this report have observed that UN is ignoring the mutual nature of this violence and hence the problem will not be resolved this way – (http://www.mediaradar.org/un_violence_report_dv_quotes.php)

Few comments are mentioned below –

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“Research on intimate partner violence consistently finds that men and women use similar types of aggression. By ignoring the mutual nature of much partner violence, the UN ensures that both women and men will continue to be victimized in this way.”

– Nicola Graham-Kevan, Ph.D., University of Central Lancashire, England

“Much domestic violence research conducted in North America has been so biased that it might be called ‘junk science.’ It has used selective data and interpreted results in a way that depicts all males as real or potential perpetrators while downplaying female violence.” – Donald Dutton, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, Canada

“Studies consistently show that throughout the Western world, men and women initiate physical violence at about equal rates, and frequently partner violence is reciprocal. Portraying inter-partner violence as though it only involves male perpetrators and female victims do both men and women a disservice.” – Felicity Goodyear-Smith, MB ChB, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Indian media of late have been seen as portraying 40% women in India as victims of domestic violence in different shows. Other than Amir Khan special Satyameva Jayate, recently on 7^th December 2012, Sony TV special Crime Patrol also showed the horrifying figures of domestic violence in India.

When Indian media is portraying such figures, it is expected that they do the same in the best interest of the nation and NOT on a biased view. In all such cases, it is found that media completely ignored to research on the subject and projected the popular image of domestic violence in the country. It is nothing but earning a bad name for the country itself.

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