Marital Rape: The Victim behind Closed Doors

Abstract

Marital rape is a serious yet unheard offence. The walls of the house, the doors of that room are the evidence of how deep, brutal and inhumane crime is being committed and the victim has to remain silent only because of the social stigma and her husband uses his superior position to breach her trust and individual integrity. Marital rape is a serious and often insidious form of violence against women with potentially devastating long term physical and emotional effects.

In India, marriage is considered a sacred union hence the term attached rape with marital is dissolving its sacred sense. Marital rape is just as heinous as a rape, being married to a husband who rapes you every night is a daily terror, a ritual that had to be done every night without her approval. There is a immediate reason to change the prevailing laws in India which can give the victim the answer that married woman have the right to approach the legal system. With new generation coming, the archaic law should be changed and by criminalizing spousal rape one does more than punish rapists, it protects women in abusive relationship as well.