Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

Lifestyle Relationships
1

*"This month, the Thomson Reuters Foundation issued a report on what it calls the planet’s five most dangerous countries for women. Two of the countries are in South Asia — Pakistan, at No. 3, and India, at No. 4.

(The world’s most dangerous country for women, according to the report, is Afghanistan. The Democratic Republic of Congo is No. 2; Somalia, No. 5.)

In Pakistan, the report says, nine out of every 10 women suffer domestic violence. "*

Do you think this is true?

I realize women have limited rights and freedoms in Pakistan compared to most western countries, but does this mean that there’s also physical more abuse of women?

Based on the small sample size of my own family and other Pakistanis that I am familiar with, I find it hard to believe that it’s so rampant.

I can’t even think of more than one instance of physical abuse. Maybe I don’t hear about it because I’m a man, but secrets are hard to keep in my family because most of us still live in our pind, where there isn’t that much privacy - you can hear and see what everyone else is doing. And I think most of Pakistan still lives like this…

Come to think of it, I’ve always thought there was more direct physical violence against women in more urban/modern/westernized environments because couples tend to live alone (not around parents, in-laws, etc.), their neighbors are strangers, there’s more private moments and so it’s easier to abuse your wife/daughter/gf/etc. in secrecy. Nevermind the factor of alcohol. Again, going back to my ancestral village near Rawalpindi in Pakistan, Ive heard of very few cases of domestic abuse. I think this is mainly because you are surrounded by people all of the time, by family, and there’s little opportunity for such violence to occur. I just don’t see it!

I know there have been horrific cases like the Mukthar Mai incident, but I think whatever happened there is few and far between, and just extreme cases, not representative of the entire country.

I could be wrong, I’m not a real Pakistani (born & raised elsewhere), so I’d like to hear your opinion (preferably that of women living in Pakistan).

2

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

Exaggerated figures obviously. 9 out of 10 probably wouldn't even hold true during Talibans' heyday in Afghanistan.

3

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

Exactly what Rizla said. Very much exaggerated figures.

4

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

author seems to have some deep relations with India....

5

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

9 out of 10! This stat appears to be pulled out of......

6

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

Probably exaggerated but could be close. Living in a joint family doesn't necessarily decrease the chances of abuse, in many instances, the inlaws.. MiL's, SiLs are actually the instigators of physical voilence against the wife. and it takes place infront of them. A first cousin of mine, was once hit by her bro-in law... another someone I know was beaten infront of the whole household, who just watched and smirked* according to the victim.. good thing she left the guy.. physical voilence isn't uncommon at all.

7

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

I read this article yesterday. The numbers defo seem exaggerated. :no: Perhaps they apply to those living in small villages or those who belong to the lower strata of society but definitely not all Pakistani women.

8

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

it's my bias, but I think the people living in small villages and lower strata are generally the least violent. Only psychopaths tend to rise to the top in countries such as Pakistan. Again, I come from a very humble village and I've never heard even couples fighting hysterically, never seen a woman with brusies from domestic violence, never even heard the whim of such violence. There's a lot of pressure on who you should marry, etc. and there's a role discrimation in terms of preferential treatment but outright beatings and violence --- nah, I have never seen it.

I'm not even talking about joint family living situations. I'm talking about where your daughter is married to the son of your next door neighbor's, who happens to be your brother/sister or cousin, etc. You can hear & see everything that is happening. If you hit someone's sister, her brothers are right there to kick your ass. granted in our part of pakistan, there's a lot less power differerential unlike areas in lower punjab and the sindh where you big land owning zamindars and their serfs....

9 out of 10. I don't believe it. We have problems with sexism, but physical violence against women is not that common place in the Pakistan and Pakistani cultures I am familiar with.

9

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?


r u from **'Jhumri Talaiya'**** OR *'Shikaarpur'???*

10

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

huh? near rawalpindi --- in & around kallar syedan/choha khalsa, etc.

11

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

I come from a small village too and heard and seen so many incidents that the statistics seem quite reasonably factual to me.

12

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

I guess every place is different. I know there's a village next to us where there have been lots of murders - not of women, but more due to disputes. Never happened in ours.

I suppose I'm lucky, but violence is not something I was brought up around.

13

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?


u didn't get my point! :D

14

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

no i didn't, i'm sorry. would you please spell it out?

15

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?


i meant to say that how come you haven't seen violence first hand or even heard about it. family violence is NOT only confined to city people. in villages, it's mostly among peasants and it's at it's most violent form. i've lived a large part of my life in a village so i know it very well.

16

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

i think it can happen in villages, but only if it's a part of the culture of that village.........if it isn't, which i don't think it is, for many parts of pakistan, then lack of privacy and constant supervision make it less probable. 9 out 10? i just doubt that stat and i don't agree that's it's mostly "peasants".

there's violence in all strata of society, but only the privileged know they can get away with it and grew up with a sense of entitlement that can incite it when they dont get what they want....in city, or in rural areas. it's just that in cities, there's more opportunity IMO.

17

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

exaggerated figures for sure...my question: is domestic violence really confined just to the under developed countries? what's with the bias??

and yes we all know by now .. pakistan is the world's most dangerous place and would soon be declared unfit for human presence :p rolls eyes

18

Re: Are 9 out of 10 women in Pakistan subject to domestic violence?

Why does Jhumri Talayya ring a bell? If I recall from years ago, song requests in Vivid Bharathi (India radio station) used to come from Rae Bareili and Jhumri Talaiya a lot? Correct me if I am wrong Khaaaaaaaaaan. (But you may be too young for this trivia)