Amongst all the peoples of the world, South Asians are about the most devoted to the extended family structure. Families collectively nurture, educate, share joys, arrange marriages, launch careers, absorb business failures, support in sickness. It’s wonderful.
The family is the first option for a woman devastated by domestic violence. The family is the bedrock, the shelter, the support system. It falls upon a family member to ensure that mental, economic, physical injury is not inflicted on the relative, and that children are kept safe out of harm’s way.
When there’s no family close by, there are always others who can be asked to step in, women’s help groups such as ASHA.
Unfortunately the family is sometimes the last to know about grievous injustices in the relative’s home. Why does this happen?
Do families allow it? Shouldn’t they talk? Shouldn’t they gather forces to protect their much loved daughter?
We leave this for you to answer.