Data | Silent survivors: 80% wives in Tamil Nadu say husbands are justified in beating them

The results of the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20) have revealed stark truths about the do

The results of the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20) have revealed stark truths about the domestic violence inflicted on women and their muted response towards it. About 80% of women in Tamil Nadu said that their husbands were “justified” in beating them if she argued with him, refused to have sex and for other similar reasons*. As a result, about 45% of married women have experienced spousal violence, the second highest share in the country behind Karnataka. In stark contrast, only about 50% of men in Tamil Nadu felt it was justified to physically abuse their wives. Tamil Nadu womens’ acceptance of domestic violence stemmed from the fact that 48% of them had witnessed their father beating their mother — the highest such share among all States. Due to the normalisation of their husband’s behaviour, over 80% of women in T.N. neither sought help nor talked about the violence meted out to them. And even among those few who did seek help, a majority informed their relatives about their plight and not the concerned authorities. Husbands’ drinking pattern played a crucial role in the degree of violence. The more he consumed alcohol, the more was the domestic abuse. 

The chart shows the % of women who agreed that a husband was justified in hitting* his wife. With 79.8% of women justifying domestic violence, Tamil Nadu ranked third among all States in NFHS-5, behind Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

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The chart shows the % of men who said that a husband was justified in hitting* his wife. About 52.8% of men in Tamil Nadu justified domestic violence — a 27% point difference compared to women. Such a stark difference of opinion existed only in T.N. 

The chart shows the % of married women who have experienced physical or sexual violence. T.N. ranked second among States in NFHS-5, with 44.7% of women experiencing domestic violence

The chart shows the % of married women who have witnessed their father beating their mother. With 48% of T.N. women witnessing their father beating their mother, the State ranked the highest

The chart shows the % of men who consumed alcohol in different States. Tamil Nadu, where 32.8% of men consume alcohol, is ranked 11th among States