Vulnerabilities among Children in the context of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a widespread problem across the world. Unlike the USA and UK, domestic violence in India, as defined in the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, is not gender-neutral. Even in the Indian criminal code, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, it is defined as cruelty committed against the woman by her husband or relatives. The historical patriarchal system still dominates the domestic violence discourses in India. According to the latest crime statistics (Crime in India, 2023), one-third (33%) of the cases of crimes against women involve domestic violence (1,49,165 cases of 4,48,211 cases). This indicates the extent to which domestic violence is deep-rooted. The historical patriarchal system dominates the domestic violence discourses in India. In recent years, domestic violence has started to be recognized as a social problem. This violence at home not only affects the victim (women), but also has consequences on other individuals, especially the children. The present research aimed to understandchildren’s experiences of domestic violence and identify the risks associated with exposure to domestic violence. A comprehensive interview schedule was prepared to collect data from the children. The self-esteem of the children was also assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The respondents of the research were children of age 16-18 years of age, who were directly or indirectly exposed to domestic violence between their parents, identified through a pre-survey conducted at their educational institutions. The findings revealed that more than half of the respondents witnessed their parents fighting for as long as they could remember. More than three-fourths of the respondents had only a moderate level of self-esteem. The other key findings of the research such as levels of physical abuse, involvement of children during violence, and impact of violence on the well-being and self-esteem of children, are discussed in detail in the paper.