Why Is Indian Society Afraid Of The Word “Divorce”?
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One of the harshest things women living in Indian society have to deal with is the fact that divorce is still seen as highly taboo. Although people in Western countries have evolved more emotionally to accept that divorce is inevitable for some couples, India still remains firm on its stance of seeing it as taboo. In 2018, a news report stated that India had the lowest divorce rate in the world. Many took the less than 1% divorce rate as a sign of good news, but it was far from the reality. In fact, this just shows that there are so many who are trapped in unhappy marriages and cannot get out easily. In India, the low divorce rate owes up to societal pressures. Many see marriages as not just a union of two people but their family lines as well. Hence they are pressured to continue with the terrible marriage even if they are unhappy (1):
Is India An Unhappy Country?
In another study, India was marked at the bottom of the happiness index. The country ranked very poorly when it came to mental health. Finland was marked as the happiest country. Finland has a seemingly much higher rate of divorce at 4%. Of course, we are not trying to say that happiness co-relates to divorce rates. However, maybe if people in India were offered the support they required to get out of unhealthy marriages, people would stop being as unhappy. This study only proved that India was a country of “happily never afters” and that there was something wrong (2).
Everybody agrees that the word divorce comes with some loaded stigma and taboo. Nobody’s parents would want their child to undergo the pain of a complicated divorce. However, if you or someone you know is going through one, it would be best to offer them the support they need. After all, choosing to end a marriage is a huge decision, and it is not an easy choice. The person will be accustomed to living with another person and will have to get on with their life after it. As divorce rates across the world increase, showing that people finally have the power to speak out and stand up in the face of an unhealthy marriage, India still lags behind.
What’s Wrong With The Word “Divorce”?
The word is whispered by gossiping aunties in the hallway. People act like it is the worst news one can get. They will speak in hushed tones and try not to say it in front of their children. Well, we’re here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with that word! Yes, it is sad that a union that may have once been fruitful and healthy is now gone, but the people in that marriage came to a decision on their own, and we are nobody to interfere or cast judgment. Many may argue that their religion forbids divorce. Others may say that divorce is a Western concept. However, the truth is that one’s own happiness is more important than saving face and “showing off for society”.
Many are afraid that divorce would impact the children and that they would face many problems because of it. But ask yourself this, wouldn’t the kids rather have parents who are separated and happy without each other than parents who are together and always fighting? An abusive household is highly toxic for any young child, and they would much rather have two happy homes than one abusive or unhappy one.
“What About Society?”
How does it matter what society thinks? Society is not paying your bills! The only thing that should matter is that you have the love, support, and mental health to walk away from an unhappy situation. While many people may argue that society includes job employers, neighbors, acquaintances, and more so, the only important thing is that you walked away from a bad situation with your head held high. It is high time that people started placing their mental health over what society had to say.
Many old fashioned people would say that a child requires both parents in the household to raise them. But what about people who have lost their spouses? Or young children who are orphaned and raised by others? How is it fair to say that a child needs to be raised by both their parents when there are so many out there who may not even have the privilege of one? It is very easy to think of the majority over respecting the views of the minority.
Many people will throw around the words “compromise,” “sacrifice,” “adjust,” and “settle,” but the truth is that they will not understand what you are going through. They cannot place themselves in your shoes, so they cannot advise you. In the end, it is important to trust your own judgment and not care about what others think. Do let us know if you enjoyed reading this article in the comment section below!
