Wife-Beating in Rural India: A Husband's Right? Evidence from Survey Data

Abstract

Drawing from the data collected in the course of a study on women's autonomy in two culturally distinct sites, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, this paper sheds light on the prevalence and patterns of a specified aspect of domestic violence, wife-beating and intimidation, and the ways in which women interpret this violence. It attempts to provide a backdrop against which the government can be held accountable for failure in respect of its obligation to take appropriate step to prevent such abuse of women.