Watta Satta Violence against Women

Author: Rana Tassawar Ali, November 26 2014 - Watta Satta is a traditional type of marriage that is a part of our culture in Pakistan from centuries of history. Watta Satta is a simultaneous marriage of a brother-sister pair from one family to a sister-brother pair in another family. The tradition literally means ‘give and take' or 'throwing a stone and receiving something back’. In Pakistan, a largely conservative society of 158 million inhabitants, the woman’s dowry is often an immense financial burden for families. Families may choose Watta Satta due to many reasons like exchange of marriage options for reasons such as poverty, insecurity, lack of awareness, and traditions. Most of the time these marriages are forced and imposed by the parents of the bride and considered a sacrifice by the bride for the happiness of her brother.

These marriages, which emerged in the past as a solution for the protection of female rights, a fight against poverty, and the prosperity of both families, now have been the source of physical, emotional, and psychological violence against females. From the beginning of this process between two families, the females are the subject of domestic violence in that they forgo rights. After marriage, a female has to be very careful and always try to live up to her husband’s expectations. After spending time in her married life, she cannot even predict what the future of her marriage life will be. She has to make sure that her mother and brother don’t do anything to shake the volatile situation she has at home. These marriages treat women as a commodity, and tension within one household also affects the other. Sometimes women simply suffer in silence to avoid their brother’s marriage being affected. But all of the efforts go to dust when she is the victim of domestic violence just because of what her brother might do in her mother's home with her sister-in-law. Most of the females who are the subject of this particular marriage situation are victims of psychological and emotional violence.

Early-age marriages and child marriage also support and encourage this tradition. To make a marriage prosperous and lifelong, these foolish decisions are made by the parents of the female child. Many times the decisions are imposed on the female child, and forced marriages are performed.

Sometimes unwanted pregnancies are carried by the wives who are bound in Watta Satta just because of a competition between the brothers. These acts are performed without keeping in perspective the physical health condition of the spouses and may result in maternal death and abnormalities in new born babies.

A lack of awareness and education in the areas where these marriages are performed are the reasons for divorces.  The innocent wives who are tied in this relation can have to face the life of a divorced woman just because any mishap in her brother's life can directly destroy her marriage.

Cultural traditions like these result in the violation of female rights. There is a need to spread awareness and advocate for the basic rights of females regarding marriage.