Perceived Sexual Abuse and Quality of Life of Female Workers of Unorganized Sector- An Exploratory Study from Four Districts of West Bengal

Women workers today play an essential and significant role in the economic structure of the country and 94% of women make up the unorganized sector of India. Domestic Violence affects women’s productivity in all forms of life i.e. assaulted women will always get agonized and emotionally disturbed and are often bruised after occurrence of the torment. A working woman may lose her efficiency in work or drop out from work in some cases. The present study aims to explore the magnitude of sexual abuse by intimate partners and the quality of life of women aged 18 -35 years in 4 districts of West Bengal. Close ended questionnaire and focused group discussions were conducted to understand their experiences regarding perception of sexual abuse. The contributing factors to violence were alcohol abuse, desire to gain control over another family member and unjustified suspicion. This analysis might be used to improve future partner violence prevention and treatment programs.