An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide: The Treatment Of Daughters – In-Law & Young Brides

Time was when daughters-in-law were treated with more consideration than one’s own daughters. This scene has been changing very rapidly. In several Jain communities, not only are the daughters-in laws treated worse than servants but also are tortured and abused for lack of insufficient dowry and for many other so-called reasons and pretexts. I personally have seen this. The serious himsa that this entails has already been discussed earlier. I have seen for myself, and been told by others, that in some houses and communities, a mother-in-law is like a cruel dictator. This is true even in Jain communities - they are not free from this menace and custom.

I ask: is this not himsa? Generally, there is not even any discussion about it. I have not seen any except mention of this in a few television serials or soap operas, which are watched more for entertainment rather than for introspection.

Now you decide: is this behavior consistent with ahimsa?