To be assaulted, abused and raped by someone as intimate as a husband, or lover, is the most degrading experience for a woman. Not recognized as ‘real’ violence, abuse of this nature is experienced daily by countless women in every culture. Behind closed doors of family, custom, values, traditions that are taken for granted and never questioned–are muffled voices of terror and trauma, which do not reach beyond the threshold nor attract the attention of lawmakers or redress agents. Edited by a renowned women’s rights activist and a former victim of domestic violence, the book takes us inside these closed doors. It puts together the life stories of seventeen women from diverse cultural, class, education and religious backgrounds in India who were victims of domestic violence. Apart form being a first person account, this powerful book is a tribute to the courage and determination of women who decided to break their silence. The book will inspire other victims of this ‘hidden crime,’ to speak out, share their plight and change their fate. A window into the ugly yet largely ignored world of domestic violence, this book will be of immense importance for students and scholars of social work, gender studies, lawyers and groups working for women. It is an essential read for all who dream of a gender egalitarian world–and also for those who prefer to turn a blind eye to this heinous crime.
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