Man Assaults Daughter-In-Law Over Her Desire To Work: Is Being Ambitious Wrong?

Recently, I came across a survey that spoke of people claiming women's fight for rights has gone too far. Today, when I watched a video of a Delhi woman grievously injured by her father-in-law, and reportedly reason was an urge to work and support her husband. Now can we ask a question- has women's fight for rights really gone too far? Should female employment be a concern to anyone? Is violence a tool to shut what women want? How long women should endure such acts? 

Delhi Man Assaults Daughter-In-Law

The 26-year-old woman simply aspired to work for an additional source of income, which is the bare minimum but she was hit by a brick multiple times. The woman is identified as Kajal. Kajal's aspiration made her father-in-law furious, he attacked her when she was going for a job interview. She was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she received 17 stitches to treat her head injury. How to comprehend this entire situation? Can anger be so huge than a person's life? It could be!

Kajal represents millions of girls in India, whose dreams are throttle to merely suffice one's ego and protect the so-called honour of generations. For instance, A Kerala man physically abused his wife as she chose work. The video of disturbing visuals went viral in October 2022. In another " target="_blank" rel="noopener">case, a woman in Telangana was chained for 6 months by her brother and sister-in-law after she decided to finish her degree. There are myriads of cases that speak of violence against women when they decide to claim their agency and aspire to be financially independent. There is a common belief that a female's financial independence could threaten men’s authority in relationship dynamics. The study conducted at Sam Houston State University reflected that women who work face a greater risk of violence at the hands of their partners than women who don’t. 

The male members of the family usually think women going out and working threatens male authority and power dynamics in the family. Female employment can create insecurity in men as well as there is the possibility of jealousy in other women of the house. There is a mindset that women going out means greater exposure, meeting new people, having purchasing power, and authority to make their own decisions. The control of men starts losing the moment women start moving in public spaces. The male ego is so fragile that it becomes difficult for them to stand women's success and ability to think. The patriarchy - men will earn, women will take care home- which thrived for generations is invoked, which doesn't go well with runners of patriarchy and leads to insecurity. Besides, the other women in the house start feeling left out, and a sense of jealousy is generated of feeling less privileged. 

Kajal's father-in-law used violence as a desperate move to protect his ego. Other than violence, emotional abuse is the biggest weapon used to stop women from making their own decisions. One can find millions of dreams are crushed due to emotional blackmail. I remember a cousin of mine wanted to take up a job because she was required to do a course. Her father threatened if she stepped out of the house he might hang himself. A reason behind such a desperate move was the course was co-ed, and all her life she attended a girl's college. Isn't it unfair? Today she is married with a kid. 

Education or employment, women making the decision to pursue any of it has hundred of hurdles. I wonder, when will we understand woman going out doesn't mean she will elope with some man or have extra-marital affair? Besides, women bringing extra money home don't replace men's position in the family, it is only going to only elevate. Solid support from women only contributes to building a happy family with a strong value system. And that's what Kajal wanted to do! 

Suggested Reading: Women Can Weather Market Volatility And Achieve Long-Term Financial Goals