The World Health Organization (2016) estimated that 35% of women worldwide have experienced some form of violence, with the vast majority of this violence against women being intimate partner violence in heterosexual relationships. The World Health Organization reports that one third of these women (30% of women worldwide) have experienced domestic violence. Culture plays an important role in DV cases in India. Gender roles, in particular, are patriarchal and rigid (Panchanadeswaran & Koverola, 2005). In heterosexual relationships. women tend towards “passive roles” whereas men tend to dominate and control relationships. Marriage is considered a “sacrosanct” union between two families rather than between individuals. In this context, women’s primary roles end up being marriage and motherhood.

In this episode we discuss the trauma and violence that follows a heterosexual relationship and how that can have a detrimental impact on a woman.