Corona Daily 472: A Private Pandemic

If he beats you, he loves you. (Бьет – значит любит): A Russian proverb

With more than half of the world’s population locked down, the crime rate has reduced drastically. But one particular crime, domestic violence, has shot up dramatically – in every country of the world.

Take the case of Japan. After the lockdown started, Kazuo Makino, 59, a Tokyo resident, killed his wife at home. An unemployed Japanese from Saitama killed his 85-year old mother, because he could no longer take care of her. An 18-year old woman from Fukushima killed her 9-month old son. A 22-year old Aichi woman killed her son born just nine days ago. Chieko Yoshida, 45, from Kuji killed her husband. The list is long.

*****

Domestic violence is one of the most under-reported crimes. Mainly it takes the form of the man in the family beating his wife or children. Historically, this was accepted as a man’s birthright. In ancient Rome, a father could legally kill his child. In many cultures, fathers could sell their children as slaves or sacrifice them in rituals.

A 2014 report says one in every three women in the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or abused in some fashion- usually by someone she knows. Rape in marriage was raised as an issue fairly recently. Demanding sex, even wife-assaults, has been the prerogative of a man. One Bulgarian husband was tried for severely beating his wife. The judge asked him if he understood what he had done, and would he please apologise, the man said, ‘but she is my wife’.

Children are spanked even today. Several studies have shown that children who are spanked begin to accept domestic violence as an acceptable custom. Many of them in their adult life beat their wives and children.

Tajikistan has an accepted family custom, where the mother-in-law rags and tortures the newly arrived daughter-in-law. The same way she was herself tormented after her wedding. Very similar to ragging traditions in boys’ hostels.

Russia is a 100% literate nation. An average Russian man drinks a bottle of vodka each week. One in four Russian families experience domestic violence. As recently as 2017, the Russian parliament almost unanimously passed a law decriminalizing domestic violence. A Russian man can now legally beat his wife or children, as long as they don’t land up in hospital with multiple fractures. Also, it should not be repetitive. The pass to truly thrash his family can be used once every year. The Russian govt said family conflicts should not be confused with domestic violence.

The Russian Orthodox Church, an enthusiastic supporter of child spanking, said, ‘The reasonable and loving use of physical punishment is an essential part of the rights given to parents by God Himself.’

*****

If this is the state of affairs in a literate country, you can imagine what happens in illiterate nations. More on this subject tomorrow.

Ravi