This blog will discuss violence against women in India and the ways in which the complex factors of addressing or dealing with these issues have formed their cultural perspectives of health, illness, and medicine. To begin, it is important to define the ways in which society views trauma and violence against women. In Lecture 4.1, Dr. Sperlich discussed how trauma is assessed in our biomedical health system and how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is typically diagnosed. She stated that in most cases, trauma is self-reported by women and is commonly a factor of adverse childhood events. (Lecture 4.1) She also discussed how trauma that happens to women, particularly sexual abuse, is often something that haunts them for the rest of their lives. Whether they are concerned that they might abuse their own children or that their significant other will abuse them or their children. This fear is often kept inside because there are not many resources for them to receive care. In fact, in her discussion in the lecture, she states that many healthcare providers feel uncomfortable even asking whether or not a woman is or has experienced domestic violence or some form of trauma because they do not feel prepared to help them or intervene. (Lecture 4.1) I thought this was very interesting, as I have been to my OBGYN and had to answer a questionnaire while pregnant that asked me a series of questions about whether I am experiencing domestic violence or if I feel threatened or unsafe at home. It makes me wonder what type of response of care I would be given if I would have answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions. I would also feel vulnerable and uncomfortable to have answered ‘yes’ on any of the questions, as there is fear for how this might impact their lives or only fuel the danger that I might incur if my threatening significant other had found out I was telling people about the events happening at home. Thinking about these vulnerabilities, fears, and shame without having experienced it goes to show how excruciatingly hard it is for women to admit to strangers who are healthcare providers or therapists that they are victims and that they need help.

In our biomedical health system, the reframing of violence against woman and the trauma they have incurred as a form of health issue changes the way in which it can be addressed or handled in society. For instance, if being abused at home by a significant health issue, then it almost immediately insinuates that something is wrong with the woman. The biological effects that occur as a result of abuse, and the adverse effects from stress and psychological and mental unrest, are all viewed in a way that the woman must seek help and ‘take care of herself’. This labels the woman as a victim and makes it difficult to blame the individual causing all of the trauma in the first place. In the sense of intergenerational trauma, our biomedical system encourages the practice of warning women, especially young women, of the risks they face in society. We teach women to be cautious at all times to never put themselves in a dangerous situation—for instance, going running at night with headphones in as a woman is deeply discouraged. The cultural norm is to educate women to be cautious, vigilant, and to prevent threatening situations from happening in the first place. The intergenerational trauma of constantly worrying of becoming a victim or having to constantly be defend their actions in ways that prove their innocence in being the blame for their own trauma is incredibly damaging and unhealthy, but it continues to be the case and societies still often blame the woman for what they could have done. In a world full of ‘resources’ people believe that there are too many options for a woman to sit idly and suffer with trauma in silence, but as Dr. Sperlich mentioned, there are not many efficient routes for treatment or care.

My final project will be conducted on women in India, where violence against women is a very big issue. Suvarna V. Menon and Nicole E. Allen conducted a study on the institutions in India that assist in responding to violence against women in India. They concluded that a lot of the reasons for its prevalence is because it is still very largely a patriarchal society. (Menon & Allen, 2018) Similar to the U.S., this patriarchal society results in victim-blaming responses from healthcare providers and law enforcement, and also viewing trauma and violence against women as a social or relationship issue between two people that does not require outside authorities. (Menon & Allen, 2018) One of their suggested solutions to this issue is in forming intervention services that focus on families intergenerationally and educate the entire family on the ways to deal with trauma and prevent the victim-blaming culture to continue. (Menon & Allen, 2018) I think it is very important to educate the women and the men on issues such as these. As, it is normally women passing down this information to other women. It should be a society sharing information widely and not creating gender-specific resources.

Sources Cited:

Lecture: 1.7. Deconstructing Biomedicine

Lecture: 4.1. Violence Against Women, Trauma, and Resilience As Health Issues – Guest Lecturer, Mickey Sperlich, PhD

Menon, S. V., & Ellen, N. E. (2018). The Formal Systems Response to Violence Against Women in India: A Cultural Lens. Am J Community Psychol. doi:10.1002/ajcp.12249