"Such are the matters": women in Ingushetia are defenceless against domestic violence

In Ingushetia, it is shameful to be a divorced woman, and it is not customary to complain about domestic violence, while the teip (family-clannish) structure of the society keeps victims from going to the police and seeking psychological support, the founder of the "ING-Attention" fem group asserts.

The "ING-Attention" fem group, where women from Magas turn for help and support, has been working in Ingushetia since 2019; it was created to help those women who need protection, says the material "Takie Dela" (Such are the matters) entitled "I was reproached for dishonouring my nation".

"The republic's traditional way of life fails to protect women: the fate of Caira, the founder of the group, was tragic due to local customs. But she did not give up and decided to fight for herself and others," the article says. Caira Gata herself has experienced much of what her community opposes: abduction and a marriage in which she lost her child, a ban to study, domestic violence and the life-long humiliating stigma of a divorced woman.

Thus, for example, in Ingushetia, after divorce, women receive the status of a divorced one – "Zhero". It is believed that a good guy should not marry a Zhero," the article says.

"Zhero is a tough and humiliating status for a woman. Such women become outcasts, a target for harassment and gossip," Caira said.

It is not customary to complain about domestic violence in Ingushetia – a woman is ashamed, even if her husband beats her every day; they say that she is inventing facts, or that she herself gave a reason for violence by behaving indecently, sometimes other women also state this.

There are also problems with psychological support in Northern Caucasus, the material says. Women do not trust professionals; while the clannish structure of the society affects the psychotherapy process, since family ties limit women's willingness to open up.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 12, 2021 at 11:09 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.