Aashwinshanker

Marital Rape in the Pandemic. 

Marital Rape is the “Pandemic”.

Rape is committed by an stranger. But how will you react if that stranger is your spouse?

What is Marital Rape?

Marital rape is when a person performs forceful sexual intercourse with their spouse without their consent.

“Marrying someone does not give you autonomy over their body or life”. Marital Rape can cause severe distress, emotional harm and injuries which can’t be seen and done by no one else but their spouse.

Marital Rape in the Pandemic.

In the pandemic almost every country went into either a phase or several phases of lockdown. A time when families got together, accompanied by the fear of unstable income, and an uncertain future.

“For some women it was their worst nightmare”.
  • Between March 25 and May 31, 2020, 1,477 complaints of domestic violence were filed by women.
  • The National Commission for Women (NCW) alone registered 587 complaints in the first three weeks of the lockdown period.
  • A steep rise from 396 complaints received in the past 25 days between February 27 and March 22.
  • Most of the cases were reported from states like Karnataka, UP, Rajasthan, Haryana and Bihar.
  • According to the National Family Health Survey-5, conducted in 6.1 lakh sample households, about 44.4 per cent women aged 18-49 years experienced domestic violence by their spouses in Karnataka.

It was also reported that 86% of women who experienced violence never sought help, and 77% of the victims did not even mention the incidents to anyone.

Is there any law to protect women against Marital Rape? 

India is one of the 36 countries where marital rape hasn’t been criminalised.

According to Section 375, Exception 2 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), “sexual intercourse by a man with his wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age, is not rape.”

My take on the “pandemic” of Marital Rape.

We can either take the long way of trying to change the patriarchal inclination of the society or take the short and firm way of presenting a strong legislation in the Parliament with signed consent of citizens and educate netizens through successful, popular social media campaigns.

Moreover we need to provide counselling sessions to married couples in rural and urban areas. Taping on key issues like child-abuse, post traumatic stress and drug abuse.

If we perform these activities in the correct order along with advocating against the misogynistic mindset, only then can we bring justice to all the women facing harassment and protect all those who will face it in the future.

21 comments

  1. 44 Percent
    Marital Reported
    Rapes In That

    Part Of
    India Doesn’t

    Relate Much
    Sweetness In
    5 Percent Divorce

    Rates Perhaps A Greater
    Statistic Related To Fear

    That’s Horrible And
    Truly Sad As Every

    Indian Woman
    i’ve Met Is So

    Kind The Price

    For Love

    Is too

    High When
    It is Institutionalized
    Rape Perhaps If They

    Understood

    What

    Stress Does
    To Pregnancy

    And Generations

    To Come A Kinder

    Approach Will

    Be Taken Even

    For Only

    Cattle

    Paid To Be Bred

    Really Sad And

    An Indictment

    On What

    All
    Toxic
    Patriarchies
    Take Away Love
    What Humans

    Are When Human At All…

    Sad When Laws Must
    Be Made To Force

    Humans

    To Be Human
    Vicious Way Indeed…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  2. This is such a grave issue. I don’t think most women even know that it is a rape. They think it is their duty to provide sex to their husbands. This needs change on so many levels.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I know ain’t a muggle. Through this article I’ve tried to give voice to “voiceless”. Thank you for your insight.

      No, when it happens between consenting couples it should not be called sex at all, it should be called “love making” which is a sacred affair. I say sacred affair not because I’m a Hindu but because it must be a harmonious feeling, which is sacred, and should not be degraded by forcefulness or harming.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Yes, that is about right. I just think that whether someone believes it to be sacred or not, without consent it must NEVER happen. I like that you chose this topic and hopefully people will read and know better.

        Liked by 1 person

      • I don’t want to hurt anyone sentiments but what is wrong must be brought in knowledge of public.

        Ain’t a Muggle it is the happiness of being with the right person that makes it sacred.

        Thank you for your appreciation!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. 💜 Totally Agreed EveryOne; for The Record as The Male Feminist Extremist I AM, I Would also add educate ladies in The Bobbit Style Butchering of Male Genitals and ensure raping gents understand that they will be sliced off

    …💛💚💙…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • 💜 OK SupaSouBro; how about Downgrading to Chemical Castration when Found Guilty of Rape, Sexual Assualt and Put On a Sex Offenders Register so Repeat Offenders ARE Imprisoned…then Dare NOT!!! Bend Over in The Shared Showers to Pick Up The Soap; it’s Crystal Clear Clarity that Sex Offenders ARE often put in to Solitary Confinement and on Suicide Watch for Their Protection, why a Lady Does NOT!!! Assert HerSelf is…. 🤔 ?

        …💛💚💙…

        Liked by 1 person

      • 💜 ALWAYS!!! Win-Win in Respectful Debate SupaSouBro; very good, carry on

        …💛💚💙…

        Liked by 1 person

  5. I agree that no one should be raped, married to the aggressor or not. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to have relations with his wife by force. Sex without love is a pale imitation of lovemaking. If there is mutual respect and affection both partners will desire and enjoy lovemaking. I don’t know the US statistics on this, but I know date rape and spousal rape do happen here as well. Hope laws to protect women do get passed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Sadly and surprisingly It happens in every country. While some report it, some done. Some understand that it is rape and some don’t! Some take a stand for themselves and some fear the end of their marriage, hence continue to suffer.

      Like

      Reply

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