Violence against Women - Essay Example

of the of the Violence against Women Violence is the ‘exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse’. The violence against women is an act in which the feminine sex is targeted in different forms. These different forms of violence against women include rape, domestic violence, verbal abuse, psychological abuse or in the form of a mixture of some or all of the above mentioned circumstances. It is high time Women should start getting well prepared against the possible incidences of violence.

Since childhood women are taught to be dependent on men for their safety and sustenance. My cousin married her boyfriend after a five year long relationship against the wishes of her family. The boy was a heavy drunkard but my cousin had no issues with it. Just a few days after their marriage, he used to beat and rape her over small matters. She never fought or stood up against him nor turned to her family for help. It was only when she was severely beaten and got admitted to hospital did the family come to know about the matter and they reported her husband to the police.

It is hence quite clear that women are generally assumed to be a weaker sex. Women are not only presumed to be physically and emotionally weaker by the society but also by themselves (Sipe and Hall). This promotes violence against women because the doers are aware that their victims cannot do much to hold out against them. Silko talks about the issue of violence against woman in a very candid manner. I partially agree with Silko that women should not label themselves as weak and dependant on others.

They should learn to defend in case some stranger turns up and tries to abuse them sexually and physically. Women should equip themselves with a licensed gun or a small hidden knife which they can use if they are ever faced with such a situation. Also most of the time when women are alone or come across rapists or drunkards, they appear very much scared. By displaying fear, they give an open invitation to such people. According to Silko, women should stay adamant and courageous if faced by a suspicious stranger.

They should not be wary of the bodily strength of such men rather they should be ready to retaliate with their weapon. Silko believes that government and police cannot protect every woman in the country because it simply is not possible (McQuade and Atwan). Therefore women should themselves be well prepared to handle such situations. I partially agree with Silko’s point of view however I disagree on the point that women should be given guns to protect themselves. Arms can weapons can never be a solution to any problem.

If all the women are given the right to kill in the case of self-defense, a chaotic situation would be created. The problem lies in the upbringing of women. Women should be brought up by encouraging them to do things on their own and asking them to engage in activities that require courage. Basic self-defense training classes should specifically be held in schools and colleges which can prepare young women to handle any incident of violence. Women in our country need to be bolder and confident and should be able to look in the eyes of the men.

This is only possible if they are brought up and trained in that way not only at their homes but also in their educational institutions. They need to bust the myth that “women are born to be easy targets.” The incidents of violence against women are constantly on the rise. The Government and the law enforcing agencies cannot succeed in providing protection to every woman hence women should learn to defend themselves if they want to live in the society without any fear. Works Cited McQuade, Donald and Robert Atwan.

"The Writers Presence, sixth edition." Zone, In the Combat. Leslie Marmon Silko. 2009. 842-848. Print. Sipe, Beth and Evelyn Hall. I Am Not Your Victim: Anatomy of Domestic Violence (SAGE Series on Violence against Women). Sage Publications, Inc, 1996. Print. "Violence.” Merriam Webster Dictionary. n.d. Web. 10 July 2011.