Why put up with abuse?

There is so much complexity tied to marriage. It's one of the most cumbersome contracts ever. Since it's not only a contract on a paper but is between two individuals, their family, kids, religion, society, self, and every other known and unknown entity. I somehow find the whole thing so intricate. I do not know why. If the relationship is good then it seems so fine, so fair, so easy and blissful else so dark, very dark that my words do not corporate with my thought to print the picture I have formed of it in my mind.
I am not very sure of other culture but I am quite aware of the Indian culture. Earlier days, wives never worked. Women were considered a burden to the father's family once they come of age. Parents got them married off as soon as they are off age to avoid an affair, coitus outside of marriage. Sex is associated with marriage and not considered a human need. Even if you are 60, you are to remain a virgin if you are not married. Being a virgin is considered a good thing even at that age! I would cringe at this.
As soon as a couple is married the parents ask for grand kids and not so much about how the couple are doing. I digress! I will write on this later.
Since women had no way to survive without financial support and shelter, especially, by then having kids, they put up with whatever men did. They suffered abuse. I remember my neighbor, my grandaunt and many more women around me, all going through this mental or physical abuse because they had no where else to go. Also I remember, once the abuse was over, I have seen these ladies go behind their men as if nothing happened and surrendered to making love. I am not sure what is the association between abuse and sex. They came out so happy forgetting the abuse and living for another week as if nothing happened till the next abuse. They put up with this till their end. You see India has the least divorce rate even now. Women are taught to put up with abuse not matter what. But I think we are getting away from this since more and more women are making more money than the men. Its still tough being in a men dominant world and a world where women are still not well read. (I wont use the word educated. Bookish knowledge makes one no better.)

I am not forgetting here one thing, women can also be abusive.
What I am getting at is, do not put up with abuse. It makes you less of a human.
However I am surprised that women (men also may be)  from outside of India like in developed countries also put up with abuse. I am not sure why? its must be more than a cultural thing. I am starting wonder if there is more to this than country or tradition.

I think if the relationship between two is like a giraffe and lion, or lets not make it that bad, lets make the relationship more like a Pomeranian and Alsatian. These type of relationship brings in fear, power and God like entity in a match. I guess fear makes one take the abuse. Then there is a worship factor the lesser has towards the dominant, the power factor the dominant has over the lesser. So these abused ones again go back out of fear, reverence and for protection to the higher mighty one. I have no other explanation for someone to put up with a bad relationship even when that person is well capable of taking care of self. I see lot of women putting up with men and blaming it on kids. "I put up with him for the kids". Unfortunately the poor kids are the most hurt in a bad relationship. They have to see and suffer the abuse their parents are going through and later in life they become the target of abuse or become the abuser themselves.

Both the abused and abuser has to realize the effect this has on their life and move away from the relationship to help themselves. These couple are not compatible with each other. The family, the society and law must help them realize this too.
If you are wise enough you will know to move on in life and help yourself. Else one day you will be dead or in jail or, later on your kids will follow your foot steps and be dead or in jail.

Still studying this..