2025, Vol. 7, Issue 11, Part A

Gender-based violence (GBV) in Odisha exemplifies both patriarchal tyranny and a deeply entrenched cultural and caste-based phenomenon that perpetuates women’s suffering and silence. Notwithstanding the advancement of constitutional and legal frameworks like the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005) and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2013), the ongoing violence in both rural and urban Odisha underscores the intricate dynamics of social hierarchy, cultural norms, and institutional inadequacies. This study analyses how cultural traditions, caste systems, and gendered expectations sustain systemic violence against women, simultaneously suppressing their voices through mechanisms of shame, stigma, and social exclusion. The study examines the interaction of caste and gender in influencing women’s susceptibility to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, utilizing field-based studies, government data, and feminist ethnography. It underscores that Dalit and Adivasi women frequently encounter dual marginalization - initially as women within patriarchal civilizations and then as lower-caste or tribal individuals inside hierarchical power structures. Their experiences of violence are often obscured by societal norms that stress familial honour and communal reputation over justice and personal dignity. The normalization of silence, bolstered by cultural expressions and religious concepts of purity and obedience, fosters an environment where violence is both denounced and accepted.

The study critically examines the state’s legal and administrative solutions which, although documented, are ineffective in practice due to female insensitivity, bureaucratic indifference, and caste discrimination within justice institutions. The underreporting by police, protracted trials, and insufficient victim support systems exacerbate women’s silence. The study highlights the tenacity of survivors and the burgeoning voices of resistance through local women’s collectives, NGOs, and digital activism in Odisha. Initiatives such as Mission Shakti and community-based organizations have commenced challenging cultural norms by offering secure environments for survivors to articulate their experiences and seek accountability.

This study contends that gender-based violence in Odisha should be perceived as a structural issue through an intersectional feminist lens, rather than as an isolated social problem. It necessitates a multifaceted strategy that integrates legal reform with cultural change - via education, gender-sensitive media narratives, and grassroots mobilization. Confronting violence necessitates recognizing caste as a fundamental axis of power that influences women’s access to justice, dignity, and safety. This research enhances comprehension of how patriarchal power perpetuates itself through moral regulation and cultural validation by analysing quotidian practices of silence and their sociocultural origins. This paper concludes that addressing gender-based violence in Odisha, in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), must extend beyond punitive measures to encompass cultural reorientation, community awareness, and institutional accountability. Empowering women to speak up is not only an act of defiance - it is a progression toward altering societal awareness and achieving a more just and compassionate community.