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Multiculturalism and Social Work | San Francisco State University

Domestic violence in the African-American and Asian-American communities: A comparative analysis of two racial/ethnic minority cultures and implications for mental health service provision for women of color.

Author: Thomas,-E-K
Author Background: Georgia State U, College of Health and Human Services, Dept of Social Work, Atlanta, GA, US
Date 2000
Type Journal
Journal Title: Psychology:-A-Journal-of-Human-Behavior
Volume/Pages Vol 37(3-4): 32-43
Publisher
Subject Matter African-Americans, Asian-Americans, domestic violence
Population
Pedagogies
Abstract Examines the prevalence and causes of domestic violence as they apply to women of color in the African-American and Asian-American communities. Although family violence continues to gain recognition as a significant social, legal and women's health issue, accurately quantifying the extent and prevalence of spousal abuse remains problematic, especially in collecting and reporting data and targeting research for population subsets defined by ethnicity. Mainstream theories delineating sources of family violence are examined for their applicability to racial/ethnic minority cultures. Low self-esteem and stress, generally attributed causes for why men batter and why women are victimized, are reconfigured to include consideration of the effects of racism, racial stereotyping, socioeconomic inequities, and the immigration experience of both Asian-Americans and some African-Americans. Barriers to service delivery and treatment access are also examined, including not only language proficiency communication styles, cultural constraints against self-disclosure, family functioning traditions, economic dependence and community acceptance of violence against women, but also the values, expectations and levels of cultural competency of mental and public health care providers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2000 APA, all rights reserved)
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