Domestic Violence in India: Effects of Education

This article studies domestic violence between husband and wife in India, and attitudes to domestic violence. We use the term 'gender-based violence' because some men use violence to control their wives. Data from the Demographic and Health Survey, 1998 2000 has been analysed. This survey includes women in the ages of 15 to 4.9, in 26 Indian states. We focus only on violence by husband against wives, ignoring other types of violence (such as a wife being hit by her husband's family, or a man being hit by his wife). Evidence in this paper is consistent with previous research indicating that gender-based violence is very prevalent in India. It seems likely that it is related to whether such violence is seen as acceptable in the perpetrator's family and in the local Community. We suggest that there art, similarities between the behaviour of same Indian men and the 'machismo' values reported in other cultures (especially in Latin America). We confirm previous claims that violence is less common if women and men art, well educated; we also note that acceptance of domestic violence appears to fit, related to the respondents education level, Thus, we encourage the Government of India to prioritise education for both boys and girls.