Marital Rape - A Social Stigma

Marriage is an institution of utmost love, faith and supreme trust. It is strongly believed to be the final step towards a 'settled' life, especially for women. The efforts to make a relationship with your partner work has to be cordial and respectful, above anything else. However, the horror and agony of some failed relationships leave a strong mark on one's life. It takes a forever for some and a few months for the others to digest the series of intentional misshaps in a domestic setting.

Marital Rape is a form of domestic violence committed by a spouse in an intimate relationship. It takes place when one of the partners forces himself/herself onto the other without their consent of approval, for sexual pleasure. What is surprising is that marital rape is considered to be 'subtle' and a 'conjugal right'. Marriage is not a legal document to get under somebody's clothes. However, a huge percentage of the population is oblivious to this undisputed fact. Marital Rape is more commonly experienced by women, though not exclusively. What leads to the agreement and acceptance of this act is the attribution of traditional views on marriage, interpretations of the male dominant society and cultural practices. People often take a step back towards criminalizing marital rape and come under the pressure of the opposite sex and accept the unjust. The lack of knowledge about this concept is a major reason which is why people agree and settle themselves with such actions as sign of love and affection. However, no dominance, supremacy and subordination never did justice to anybody. The question is, How far do we have to wait for this to be perceived as a crime? How many lives will it take for the law to recognize it?  

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