Hinduism, marriage and mental illness

Area of Science:

• Sociology of Mental Health
• Indian Social Studies
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Marriage is a significant social and religious institution in India, deeply intertwined with family and societal structures.
• Indian society is largely patriarchal, assigning women primarily to roles of wife and mother, with prescribed passive societal expectations.
• Arranged marriages and dowry practices are customary, reflecting familial and societal involvement beyond the individual couple.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the intersection of mental illness, marriage, and gender roles within the Indian socio-legal context.
• To investigate how societal norms impact married women with mental illness, particularly concerning discrimination and abuse.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of social values and their manifestation in real-life situations.
• Review of societal norms in conjunction with Indian legislative frameworks concerning marriage and women's rights.
• Exploration of gender roles and their influence on the status of married women, especially those with mental health conditions.

Main Results:

• Married women with mental illness face significant discrimination compared to their male counterparts.
• Societal norms exacerbate issues such as domestic violence, dowry harassment, dowry death, separation, and divorce for mentally ill married women.
• Existing social values and patriarchal structures often supersede legal protections designed to safeguard women.

Conclusions:

• The study concludes that deeply ingrained patriarchal norms in Indian society create a vulnerable environment for married women with mental illness.
• Legal provisions are frequently undermined by powerful societal attitudes, leading to severe consequences for affected women.
• Addressing the discrimination and abuse faced by married women with mental illness requires a multi-faceted approach that tackles both societal norms and legal enforcement.