Compelled Subjugation and Forced Silence: Sexually Abused Girls and their Family Members: A Case Study of Western Madhya Pradesh (India)

ABSTRACT

Despite taking action against the sexual abusers the family members of many of the sexually abused girls force the victims to keep the behaviour of abusers a secret. They ask their girls to forget the events and forgive the offenders for the sake of family honour and family solidarity. Even, the family members compel their girls to subjugate the need of emotional counselling and of any other medical help, if they suffer from mental disorder after the abuse. A girl finds it difficult to forgive the abuser or forget the traumatic events of her life and the paradoxical behaviour of her family members becomes a new source of trauma for her.

This article explores the responses to and the handlings of the cases of sexual abuse of girls by their family members. An attempt has also been made to analyse the impact of the unusual behaviour of the parents on the emotional well being of the victims and the coping strategies on which they depend for coming out from this situation.