Cultural Competency - Domestic Violence
Help for UMHS Victims of Domestic Violence
Cultural Barriers for Victims of Domestic Violence:
Web Resources on Domestic Violence
A Select Bibliography: Culture and Domestic Violence
Help for UMHS Victims of Domestic Violence
- UMHS Abuse Prevention Initiative: 734-763-0215
- UMHS Interpreter Services: 734-936-7021
If the victim has a language barrier, make every effort to use an interpreter that is the same gender as that of the victim.
Cultural Barriers for African American Victims of Domestic Violence
Internal Barriers:
- A misunderstanding about what defines domestic violence.
- The stigma associated with domestic violence.
- African American women may believe it is their responsibility to maintain the family regardless the cost.
- Victims potentially desire to protect African American men and their image in society. The victim may have witnessed discrimination or brutality against African American men and have a sense of community loyalty that makes her hesitate in reporting cases of abuse to not "betray" her community.
- Women may internalize common stereotypes about African American women and be reluctant to bring attention to her situation.
External Barriers:
- Women may not be aware of services that are available or how to use them.
- Those who are in positions to help may believe in the false racial stereotype that violence among African Americans is normal and inevitable.
- Support services are often in short supply in African American communities. Victims may feel unwelcome or misunderstood in shelters outside of their immediate community.
- It is common for women to seek temporary shelter within extended family networks in African American communities, but many times because of the closeness to the persons involved, they may not be able to objectively offer alternatives. They may also lack the professional training needed to handle crisis situations.
- Lack of economic self-sufficiency makes it difficult for victims to leave violent situations.
- Mistrust of the legal system and health care providers due to past experiences of racism.
- Media messages from African American leaders stating the importance in supporting the African American male and not expose him to any more stressors hinders women from reporting abuse.
Sources: Campbell, DW. "Nursing Care of African-American Battered Women: Afrocentric Perspectives." AWHONN's Clinical Issues in Nursing. 4(3): 407-415. 1993.
Robinson, MS. "Battered Women: An African American Perspective." The ABNF Journal. pp. 81-84. 1991.
Cultural Barriers for Asian Victims of Domestic Violence
Internal Barriers:
- A misunderstanding about what defines domestic violence.
- The stigma associated with domestic violence.
- Reluctance to discuss family violence for fear of bringing shame on the family and ostracism from the community.
- Victims desire to preserve the family and marriage at all costs.
- Victims fear the batterer.
External Barriers:
- Language and cultural differences isolate the victim. Consequently, the victims are unaware of their basic civil and legal rights.
- Recent immigrants may not be familiar with the way things work in their new environment. (i.e. social service systems, school and medical systems, transportation, etc.)
- Families may have suffered fragmentation and loss as a result of war and refugee experiences. This may make it difficult for a refugee woman to leave her abuser, as he may be the only surviving relative she has left.
- Challenges to traditional male-female roles.
- The lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate resources within communities may make the victims feel isolated. Victims often do not know what resources exist or where to get help.
- There is a lack of interpretation services in courts, health care facilities, and domestic violence shelters.
- Denial of services due to language barriers.
- There is a lack of supporting resources accessible to Asian women.
- Lack of economic self-sufficiency makes it difficult for victims to leave violent situations.
- Immigration issues (including legal status, benefit denials, legal resources, etc.) make it difficult for Asian women to seek help.
Source: Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence
Cultural Barriers for Latino Victims of Domestic Violence
Internal Barriers:
- A misunderstanding about what defines domestic violence.
- The stigma associated with domestic violence.
- The victim's desire to preserve the family leads to tolerance of abuse. The value of familismo which emphasizes family unity and devotion to family is a central cultural value.
- Victims fear the batterer.
External Barriers:
- Language barriers and cultural differences isolate the victim.
- Victims believe interactions with health care providers are marred by racial and ethnic prejudice. Victims feel disconnected and mistreated in the medical care setting and are reluctant to discuss abusive situations.
- Recent immigrants may lack the support of extended families and feel socially isolated. Victims are unaware of law enforcement services, legal rights, and the availability of social resources.
- Language barriers make it difficult to trust the provider. Interpreters create a distance between the patient and provider that interferes in developing trust.
- Fear that entering the health system puts them at risk for deportation, when in fact current immigration laws protect abused wives.
- Traditional male-female roles make it difficult for victims to identify abuse.
- The lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate resources within communities isolates victims. Victims are unaware of resources that exist or where to get help.
- Lack of economic self-sufficiency makes it difficult for victims to leave violent situations.
- Immigration issues (including legal status, benefit denials, and legal resources) make it difficult for women to seek help.
Sources: "Bauer HM, et.al. "Barriers to health care for abused Latina and Asian Immigrant Women." Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. Vol (1) 11. pp. 33-44. 2000. AYUDA Family Violence and Prevention Fund
Web Resources on Domestic Violence
African American
Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community
www.dvinstitute.org
Asian
- Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence
- Asian & Pacifc Islander Institute on Domestic Violence
- South Asian Domestic Violence
- Manavi
- New York Asian Women's Center
Hispanic
National Alliance for Hispanic Health
Native American
Indian Health Service
Multifaith
FaithTrust Institute, Peaceful Families Project
General
- Domestic Violence: A Practical Approach for Clinicians
- Family Violence and Prevention Fund
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
A Select Bibliography: Culture and Domestic Violence
Adams, DL. (Ed.) "Health Issues for Women of Color: A Cultural Diversity Perspective." Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1995.
Berenson AB, Stiglich NJ, et al. "Drug Abuse and other Risk Factors for Physical Abuse in Pregnancy among White non-Hispanic, Black, and Hispanic Women." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 164: pp. 1491-1499. 1991.
Burns, MC (ed) "The Speaking Profits US: Violence in the Lives of Women of Color." Seattle, WA: Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence.1986.
Campbell JC, Campbell DW. "Cultural Competence in the Care of Abused Women." Journal of Nurse Midwifery. 41(6): pp. 457-462.1996.
Campbell, DW. "Nursing Care of African-American Battered Women: Afrocentric Perspectives." AWHONN's Clinical Issues. 4 (3): pp. 407-415. 1993.
Denis RE, Key LJ, et al. "Addressing Domestic Violence in the African American Community." Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 6(2): pp. 284-293.1995.
Galanti, GA. "Caring for Patients of Different Cultures." Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991.
Huisman, KA. "Wife Battering in Asian American Communities: Identifying the Service Needs of an Overlooked Segment of the US Population." Violence Against Women. 2(3) pp. 260-283. 1996.
Panigua, F. "Assessing and Treating Culturally Diverse Clients." Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc. 1994.
Richie, BE. "Understanding Family Violence Within US Refugee Communities: A Training Manual." Washington, DC: Refugee Women In Development, Inc, 1988.
Thompson MP, Kaslow NJ. "Partner Violence, Social Support, and Distress Among Inner-City African American Women." American Journal of Community Psychology. 28(1) pp. 127-143. 2000.
Sorenson SB. "Violence Against Women: Examining ethnic differences and commonalties." Evaluation Review. 20(3) p. 123. 1996.
Volpp L, Main L. "Working with Battered Immigrant Women: A Handbook to Make Services Accessible." San Francisco, CA: Family Violence Prevention Fund, 1995.
White, EC. "Chain Chain Change: For Black Women in Abusive Relationships." Seattle. WA: Seal Press. 1994.
